Pod rot is a warning for soybean producers

An anomaly that has been affecting soybean crops in recent harvests is pod rot, which causes the grains to rot and reduces the crop's productivity. The occurrence of this problem has been more frequent in the Cerrado region, especially in Mato Grosso, where producers reported losses of up to 30% in the 2021/2022 harvest.

To discuss the causes and solutions for this anomaly, the Agricultural Management Institute (IGA) held a lecture with agronomist Eliezer Gheno, a specialist in phytopathology. The event was attended by the IGA team, technicians from the Valim, JHS, Marcelo Swart and Maurício Scholten groups, and was promoted by Syngenta.

According to Gheno, pod rot may be related to climatic, nutritional and physiological factors, in addition to the presence of various fungi and bacteria in the plants. Among these organisms, Phomopsis stands out as the most recurrent in the analyzed samples. Another disease that can contribute to pod rot is anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum truncatum, which directly attacks the grain.

The researcher in nematology and phytopathology at IGA, Lais Fontana, attended the lecture and highlighted the importance of anticipating the possible arrival of this problem in Goiás. “Pod rot is a serious problem that has occurred in other regions of the country. It is essential to know the reasons and solutions so that this does not interfere with soybean productivity in Goiás”, she argued.

The IGA has been talking to producers and monitoring the situation in Goiás, seeking to identify the best phytosanitary management practices and the cultivars most resistant to the anomaly. Furthermore, the institute is part of a multidisciplinary team that developed a research project to study the problem in partnership with other public and private institutions.