With the arrival of the water harvest, nematode pressure increases in HF crops

Pests that may end up going unnoticed by the farmer, nematodes can cause damage to vegetables and, depending on factors such as species, population density, environmental conditions and type of soil, losses can reach 100%, according to experts. Vegetables end up being an easy target, as most of them are susceptible to nematodes, which take advantage of this for their own nutrition and life cycle, damaging the plant's root system.

“In summer or during the rainy season, as it is known at this time, high humidity and temperature contribute to the reproduction of nematodes, which makes fruit and vegetable producers even more alert to the need to mitigate this problem. Furthermore, nematodes in crops end up leaving plants vulnerable to the entry of other pathogens, which can cause irreparable losses”, says Sheila Daniella, Market Development agronomist at Adama.

Appropriate management must consider the type of cultivar, the level of soil infestation, the time of year and the integration of techniques such as crop rotation, use of biological and chemical products. The application of nematicides is one of the most effective in controlling this pest, reducing the population and allowing the crop to establish itself. Choosing the correct product is essential to prepare the soil to receive the planted culture, and the physical-chemical characteristics and mechanism of action must be analyzed for greater sustainability of the cultivation system. Adama, a company that is part of one of the largest global agribusiness holdings, has as one of its strategic pillars the formulation of solutions that bring simplicity, ease of application and effectiveness. Focusing on nematodes, Nimitz, among other solutions, is available on the market, with lower toxicity, greater profitability, effective and definitive action of a real nematicide, which brings more productivity.

“Nimitz has specific action on phytonematodes and the solution has shown an unprecedented level of control for the main genera of nematodes in Brazil - Meloidogyne spp and Pratylenchus spp -, which cause greater headaches for HF producers. The low dose of use, the milder toxicological profile than traditional nematicides and the ease of application of Nimitz are what sets the product apart”, explains Sheila.

Results in productivity and quality of potatoes and carrots

Meloidogyne spp, or root-knot nematode, when it attacks potato plants, forms galls on the roots of the plants, which obstruct the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. Symptoms can also be found on the tubers, which end up showing lesions in the form of blisters that harm the potato skin and its marketing, which, in addition to the physical damage, which impacts quality, also directly affects the productivity of the crop.

“Nematode control is achieved through management to reduce the pest population and choosing the correct product is essential. Nimitz provides an average increase of 48 bags per hectare in potatoes and, for special potatoes, 41 more bags per hectare when compared to market competitors”, reports Carla Fiorin, Market Development agronomist at Adama. In carrots, significant results were also observed with the use of Nimitz, which generated 220 more boxes per hectare.

“HF crops, in general, are susceptible to nematode pressure. We are talking about the water harvest, but in winter the producer's attention must be maintained if not redoubled, as the pest ends up being a gateway for other worrying pathogens such as Ralstonia spp., Verticillium spp., Erwinia spp., Pythium spp. , Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp. And there are still reports that the nematode genus Helycotilenchus spp, which is not very significant in potato crops, encourages the entry of scabs, warns Carla.