Corn planting in the 2023/24 harvest has already started in some states that grow the cereal in the summer window. Along with sowing, work also begins to monitor one of the crop’s main pests, the corn leafhopper an insect vector of the diseases that make up the stunt complex. Experts and entities in the sector seek to raise awareness among farmers so that they not only adopt preventive control measures, but also choose suitable hybrids and assertive integrated management, aiming to mitigate losses that can reach 70% of a crop, according to Embrapa.
The experts’ first tip is that before starting to sow corn, the producer must eliminate volunteer corn plants, which are uncultivated plants, originating from grains and parts of cobs with corn grains lost in the process. of harvesting and transportation, which end up germinating not only in agricultural areas, but also on the shoulders and flowerbeds of roads and cities.
“This tiguera corn ends up serving as a green bridge between one harvest and another, harboring both the insect and the causal agents that make up the complex: red stunting, yellow stunting (pale) and the thin streak virus (stripe virus). Therefore, it needs to be eliminated”, warns Marcelo Ferri , Market Development Agronomist at Bayer .
The second step is to choose hybrids with some degree of tolerance to the stunting complex. A good example of how important this item is is that since the corn leafhopper started to pose a more significant risk to the crop, Bayer has been investing in the improvement of germplasm that is more tolerant to the stunting complex. As a result, the company estimates that the hybrids launched for this purpose, between 2020 and 2023, avoided losses of approximately 3.67 million tons of corn.
“In other words, the use of hybrids with tolerance to stunting was important for the Brazilian economy. These 3.67 million tons preserved prevented producers from losing US$350 million”, says Pierri Spolti, director of Phytopathology and Production Systems from Bayer.
Another important step before starting crop control is to treat the corn seeds, thus ensuring a healthy start of the crop. According to Marcelo Ferri , Cropstar®, a systemic insecticide from the neonicotinoid chemical group (Imidacloprid), associated with Thiodicarb, from the Methyl-carbamate chemical group, which brings a broad spectrum of control and initial protection to crops.
Management for the implemented crop must begin after the corn emerges, in the presence of the first adult leafhoppers, applying the insecticide Curbix®, an essentially contact product, from the phenylpyrazole chemical group (Etiprole), which will be used to combat adult leafhoppers and also from green-bellied bedbugs. It can also have a second application, with an interval of at least seven days after the first application.
When the corn reaches the approximate V4 stage, it is time to also begin the fight against leafhopper nymphs, considered one of the main reasons for population explosions. The producer can start applying Connect, a systemic insecticide from the neonicotinoid chemical group, associated with beta-cyfulthrin, belonging to the Pyrethroid chemical group (contact), with the main function of translaminar translocation, which affects nymphs, even when hidden. on the underside of the leaves.
“The management of leafhopper nymphs is perhaps one of the main bottlenecks in the successful eradication of this pest. Something little commented on and widespread. Producers end up letting the nymphs prevail and, as a result, there are explosions of leafhoppers, which are more attracted to plants already infected with the stunt complex, generating a large increase in the diseased pest population”, warns the Bayer specialist.
Finally, Connect® also helps control adult insects, whether they come into direct contact or through ingestion. Connect will also assist the producer, in case of new infestation, in a second and third application of the product, with an interval of at least seven days between them, protecting the corn until it reaches the V8 stage, considered the critical period to avoid losses caused by the leafhopper.
It is also worth highlighting the importance of monitoring and adopting integrated pest management (IPM). “With monitoring information in hand, producers realize the importance of using data to calibrate their management strategy. Corn cultivation has a very short period to define productive potential and being attentive to details makes a difference in crop results harvest. We emphasize the importance of all producers following the monitoring, as the leafhopper is present in all summer and off-season corn planting regions, with the potential to cause significant impacts to the productive potential, if preventive measures are not taken”, Marcelo Giacometti , Field marketing manager at Bayer.
To ensure safety and effectiveness throughout this process, the producer must seek the guidance of an agronomist and follow the application rules for what is prescribed, observing appropriate climatic conditions, choosing the right application tip, drop coverage, pressure , volume of syrup, among other details. Therefore, adopting measures together is essential to interrupt this cycle.”
SOURCE : PRNewswire