Integrated management with biological solutions is an alternative for controlling white mold

In recent weeks, Rio Grande do Sul, one of the states most impacted by the lack of rain, managed to start soybean sowing, contributing to the record production estimate for the oilseed in Brazil, forecast at 140,7 million tons of the grain, according to forecasts from the National Supply Company (Conab). However, some invisible factors, hidden even in the straw, can bring challenges to producers, mainly regarding the increased risk of fungal diseases, such as white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), which can generate losses of up to 70% in the productivity of a crop. farming, according to data from Embrapa.

Bayer Crop Protection Release Manager, Erick Cancian, highlights that white mold has gained relevance in higher altitude production in Rio Grande do Sul, especially after the first 45 days of the emergence of most soybean cultivars. "The evolution of the disease is paralyzed in a dry environment, but when humid conditions return, the incidence of the fungus may increase", he reinforces.

Although more difficult, disease transmission can occur through seed infection through dormant mycelium or through sclerotia (pathogen resistance structures) mixed with the input. However, the greatest damage occurs in the reproductive stages (flowering and pod formation).

"The disease survives in the soil for several harvests in the form of sclerotia, which germinate and develop apothecia on the soil surface. In turn, these produce ascospores (spores) that are released into the air and are responsible for infecting plants. It mainly attacks the lower third of the plants, in the Baixaeiro, requiring careful monitoring in the first stages of crop establishment. The most vulnerable phase of the plant goes from full flowering to the beginning of pod formation", adds Cancian.

The symptoms can be noticed in watery spots on the aerial parts of the plants, and they soon develop white mycelium, with a cottony appearance. Over time, it is possible to observe the rotting of the branches, leaves, pods and stem, which can cause the death of the plant. "Once the plant is infected by the fungus, curative control and isolated measures are not efficient, hence the importance of Integrated Disease Management, aiming to reduce the impacts on the soybean farmer's profitability. In this case, the combined use of chemical and biological , for example, has proven to be an excellent option", says the professional.

Integrated management

To combat white mold in crops, it is necessary to apply preventive and planned measures. Bayer offers some solutions that allow for intelligent management: the Fox Xpro fungicide and the Serenade microbiological bactericidal fungicide.

The biological solution has multiple modes of action. So, with the application of Serenade, the lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis QST713 begin to act on the cell membrane of the fungus' reproductive structures, causing their deformation and producing ruptures. Bacillus subtilis also acts by competing for space and nutrients on the plant's surface and in the soil near the root system.

"Bayer's recommendation is that producers use integrated management, which combines biological and chemical control. This way, soybean growers can use Serenade as early as possible, to reach the stem and soil, close to the first application of Fox®Xpro, aiming at preventive control of diseases. The solutions must be prescribed and applied according to the guidance of a qualified agronomist", explains Cancian.

Fox Xpro fungicide contains three different and complementary active ingredients, including the active ingredient Bixafem, the company's new exclusive carboxamide. The formula acts at different stages of the fungi's life cycle, providing health to the plants, which can result in better results at the end of the harvest.

According to Érick, "one of the differentials of this fungicide is the innovative formulation with Leafshield technology, which distributes the product more quickly on the leaves, offering more efficient spraying. In the 4.500 areas with assisted sales of Fox Xpro in the 20/21 harvest, the The result was 89% of victories, with an average of 3 more bags per hectare, compared to the treatment of competing products", he concludes.