Network of institutions conducts research on soybean anomaly and breakdown in MT

A network made up of research institutions, genetic improvement companies, seed companies and consultancies is conducting, in an integrated manner, a set of experiments in Mato Grosso and Rondônia to seek answers related to the occurrence of pod rot, known as soybean anomaly, and to the breaking of the soybean stalk. The two problems emerged in Mato Grosso in recent harvests and have been causing concern to rural producers.

Each experiment serves to observe and collect data related to the two problems. There are 12 trials that evaluate 42 genetically modified cultivars, 12 trials with conventional (non-transgenic) materials and 12 trials with 9 cultivars and 3 planting times. There are also six trials using different fungicide strategies. The research areas are located in Sinop, Sorriso, Lucas do Rio Verde, Nova Mutum, in Mato Grosso, and in São Miguel Ariquemes and Guaporé, in Rondônia.

According to Embrapa Cerrados researcher, based at Embrapa Agrossilvopastoril (Sinop-MT), Auster Farias, the two problems are new and there is still no conclusion about the causes. Different hypotheses are worked on, relating the cause to pathogens or climatic conditions or even to the production system.

“It may not be an isolated factor, but rather a set of these causes”, explains the researcher.

In the last harvest, some important observations were already made, but in cultivar showcase areas and not in experiments set up for this purpose. To standardize information collection, researchers from Embrapa and partners defined data and material collection methodologies.

Auster explains that in field experiments, plant tissues are being collected to isolate pathogens to identify possible causes and samples will also be collected for genomic studies.

“Our objective is to select materials that are more resistant to pod breakage and rot, in addition to identifying the causes of the problems”, explains Auster Farias.

Embrapa Agrossilvopastoril researcher Dulânndula Wruck explains that fungi were identified in materials collected in the last harvest, however, when inoculated into plants in a greenhouse, the symptoms were not reproduced.

In any case, the research carried out in this harvest tests different strategies for controlling the pathogen, including seed treatment, application of multi-site or site-specific fungicides, in addition to different application times.

Embrapa is currently part of the research network, through the Agrosilvopastoral, Cerrados and Soja Units, Basf, Syngenta, Bayer, TMG, GDM, Fundação Rio Verde, Coacen, FitoLab, Aprosoja, Proteplan, EPR Consultoria, HO Sementes, Fundação Mato Grosso, Plantagro, Federal University of Rondônia, Agronorte, Ihara, UPL, Corteva, Sipcan, Solo Fértil and MZ Serviços Agrícolas.

The research network seeks sources of funding to fund experiments and research.