Brazilian company Sa announced its entry into the pest and disease control market with the launch of TrichoVex, a biological fungicide classified by Sa as "effective in managing soilborne diseases."
The new technology was developed based upon the fungus Trichoderma harzianum (isolate IB19/17). According to Sa, the product works to control pathogens, such as white mold, red root rot, and root rot, complementing the action of chemical fungicides.
Sa Innovation and Quality Manager Porto told AgroPages that TrichoVex can be applied via seed treatment, directly in the planting furrow, or by spraying before crop closure and post-harvest.
According to Sa’ technical team, the new biological fungicide's efficacy exceeds 85%. Sa adds that the use of TrichoVex "favors root colonization, suppression of sclerotia in soil, and the strengthening of plants' natural defense mechanisms."
Sa, with 26 years of operation in the sector, already had nutriphysiology solutions and field adjuvants in its portfolio. Currently, bioinputs account for more than 12% of the company's revenues, and the expectation is to reach 15% in the next crop season with the launch of new products based on biological agents.
Sa' vision is to continue launching biological inputs aligned with regenerative agriculture principles.
"With the combination of biological solutions, it's possible to increase crop performance in a more sustainable way, with benefits, such as reducing environmental impact, promoting soil and plant health, stimulating biodiversity, and greater crop resilience against adverse conditions, like drought and high temperatures," added Sa.
Trichoderma harzianum
Trichoderma is a genus of necrotrophic microparasitic filamentous fungi, commonly called green mold. This genus comprises more than 100 species of fungi widely used in different industries and has been gaining prominence in agriculture through improved sanitation, growth, and productivity of various crops of economic importance.
Fungi of the Trichoderma genus are considered an active component of soil microflora, being found most frequently in soils of tropical and temperate climate regions associated with plant roots and dead organic matter. Their use in agriculture has gained prominence in recent years, particularly in the area of biological control, thanks to the action of three different mechanisms: antagonism, mycoparasitism, and antibiosis.
By generally exhibiting accelerated growth, Trichoderma species can quickly establish themselves and colonize plant roots, in addition to antagonizing the growth of other microorganisms harmful to plants, such as phytopathogens.
