The Rise of biological linecides: Saving hundreds of billions of dollars in crop losses caused by nematodes

Plant parasitic nematodes feed on plants (especially roots, tubers and bulbs) and can cause severe damage to many crops, creating a major headache for many farmers. Globally, plant-parasitic nematodes are estimated to cause 10 to 15 percent of yield losses. Depending on the crop, pest population density, and the type of crop that feeds on it, yield losses can be even greater. Total global crop losses due to plant-parasitic nematodes are estimated at $125 billion annually. They are one of the major challenges facing farmers around the world.

 In 2013, nematologists around the world listed the top 10 plant parasitic nematode groups that cause the most economic damage. The top three are: Meloidogyne spp, Heteroderaspp, and Pratylenchus spp. Most plant parasitic nematodes can invade a wide range of hosts, including soybeans, sugarcane, corn, rice, cotton, etc.

The Brazilian market for linecides is growing rapidly 

Plant parasitic nematodes are also a problem for Brazilian farmers. According to the Brazilian Nematode Society (SBN), this parasite costs Brazilian farmers BRL 35 billion annually, with an average annual loss of BRL 15 billion for soybean crops alone. 

Among the various control measures, the use of resistant crop varieties, crop rotation and the use of lineicides are more effective and economically feasible in controlling plant parasitic nematodes. Because the losses caused by nematodes are large and difficult to control, the market for linecides is an area that agrochemical companies want to fill and compete in.

Kynetec revealed that according to the latest FarmTrak study, the Brazilian market for linecides has grown tenfold in 8 years [3]. In the 2021-2022 period, the sales of the linecide market amounted to BRL 1.6 billion, compared to only BRL 160 million in the 2014-2015 period.

According to Kynetec market Intelligence analyst Gabriel Pedroso, soybeans accounted for 52 percent (BRL 806 million) of the last harvest's linecide business, followed by sugar cane with 23 percent (BRL 363 million). Corn, cotton, coffee, potatoes and 14 other crops surveyed together account for the remaining 25% of this business (approximately BRL 400 million).

In terms of area treated, the coverage of linecides has jumped from 1.5 million hectares to 21 million hectares since data collection for the study began. This data was first published in 2015 by Spark Smarter Decisions, a former consulting firm recently acquired by Kynetec. 

Of the 21 million hectares, soybeans accounted for the highest proportion of potential treated area (PTA) in the last harvest at 64 percent, or about 13.4 million hectares. This was followed by maize and cotton, each accounting for 13%, with about 2.73 million hectares (a total of 5.46 million hectares). Sugarcane field treatment area is 1.27 million hectares, equivalent to 6% of PTA.

Regarding adoption by farmers, FarmTrak found that in 2022, 99 percent of cotton fields were treated with linecides, compared to just 9 percent in 2015. This increased from 2% to 24% in soybeans, from 6% to 13% in sugar cane, and from 1% to 13% in corn.

Even for smaller crops such as carrots, garlic and potatoes, the percentage of linecides used in 2022 was 76%, 67% and 39%, respectively. Nematodes seriously damage plant roots. Faced with potential losses, producers choose to invest in preventive management, "Pedroso stressed.

Biocides account for 75% of the market share

 Data from another FarmTrak survey shows that biocides are at the top of the market. In 2015, chemical linecides accounted for 94% of sales, while biological linecides accounted for less than 6%. Just eight years later, in 2022, biocides made a strong reversal, with sales reaching R $1.2 billion, or 75% of the overall market, with chemical acides taking the remaining 25% (R $395 million).

The first and most important reason for this reversal is the excellent nematode control of these products. Comparative studies have shown that biologics outperform other types of linecides on the market 80% of the time. Another key point is the long duration of action of biocides. The residual period of most products is basically around 20 days (this is also a critical stabilization period in the early stage of planting), and the microorganisms in the biologics have been living in the soil. As crops and their roots grow, they can continue to develop and gain greater strength. Other advantages of biologics include that they do not stimulate pest resistance, have low (or no) toxicity, and ensure environmental safety.

New biocide solutions for sugar cane

Brazil is by far the world's largest producer of sugar cane. However, this position has not come easily. Nematodes of the Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus spp were discovered long ago in Brazil to be major problems in sugarcane cultivation. 

Biologics are the most valuable product category in the field of sugarcane biocontrol in Brazil, with biocides and linecides accounting for the majority of the market. In Brazil, growers have recognized the advantages of using such products not only to control nematodes, but also to improve soil health and increase utilization levels.

Agrochemical companies have introduced some new biocides for sugarcane crops. Syngenta's CERTANO, Corteva’s Inlayon Eco and Adama's Protege are three new products that are both nematodetic and bactericidal. Syngenta Biologics launched its new product CERTANO (Bacillus velezensis isolate CNPSo 3602) to the Brazilian market during Insectshow & Bioinsumos.

CERTANO is a microbial biocide with a wide range of applications that can be used at all stages of sugarcane cultivation to provide sugarcane growers with efficient nematode control, from planting to perennial cane, all year round.

Corteva’s Inlayon™ Eco is a microbial linecide that is sustainable and highly effective and is approved for use in channel application against major nematodes that affect sugarcane fields, such as the maize short-body nematode (Pratylenchus zeae) and the Java rootbind nematode (Meloidogyne javanica). Inlayon™ Eco contains a unique strain found in Brazilian soil (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens isolates SIMBI BS 10) that allows for wider pest control and better growth of sugarcane.

With proven and reliable performance, Inlayon™ Eco helps farmers grow stable, robust crops that meet market demand without harming the environment. Adama has introduced Protege, a microbicide and linecide, in Brazil and is highly recommended for use in sugarcane crops. 

The biopesticide Protege contains a triple combination of bacteria: (Bacillus thuringiensis + Bacillus velezensis + Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which has different action modes against nematodes, which can control these parasites and protect the production efficiency of sugarcane.

Vinicius Boleta, product manager at Adama, explains: "Lineicides are an important tool for controlling nematodes because they are not only highly effective, but also help to create a favourable environment for plant growth." 

Profix, launched by Agrivalle, is a biocide containing three microbes: two bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) and a fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus（Thorn.）Samson. The product adopts WP formulation for sugarcane crops. 

The product is suitable for different periods of planting and harvesting of perennial cane, and its ingredients can effectively control the various stages of existing plant nematodes, eggs and larvae, and the use time is not limited.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is the active ingredient of a new biotinicide

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is an active ingredient in many biotinicides. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is the dominant biological population in soil and plant microbiota. The microbe is non-toxic, non-pathogenic and safe for humans and animals. It can produce spores resistant to heat, drought, ultraviolet and organic solvents, and is an ideal target for biological control bacteria screening.

In addition to the Corteva’s Inlayon™ Eco and Adama’s Protege products containing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Corteva’s Lumialza, IHARA’s TRUNEMCO and Koppert’s Veraneio all contain this active ingredient. 

Corteva launched Lumialza, its first biocide for seed treatment, in Brazil at the end of 2022. Lumialza contains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (strain PT-4838), a naturally occurring organism that colonizes the root area, forming a biological barrier against a variety of harmful nematodes.

Lumialzam does not interrupt the activities of organisms that are beneficial to the soil, providing effective protection from the beginning of crop growth and lasting for more than 80 days. The product also activates the production of hormones in the plant, promoting better root and bud development. In this way, plants absorb more water and nutrients and grow healthier and more energetic. 

Veraneio (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-UMAF6614, University of Malaga) is a bioinsecticide developed by Koppert for the control of root rot nematodes (Pratylenchusbrachyurtts) and gallbladder nematodes (southern Meloidogyne, Meloidogyne javanica).

Veraneio has two mechanisms of action for controlling soil pests. One forms a biofilm at the roots that protects the crop from nematode attacks, and the other promotes antibacterial action, in which metabolites and enzymes produced by the bacteria promote disorientation and degradation of plant-pathogenic nematodes. Veraneio can be used in combination with other biological inputs for the treatment of industrial seeds.

New products are constantly emerging

PHC68949, a new nematode control product based on Harpin-derived peptides from Plant Health Care, is being filed for registration in Brazil. According to the company, the product, which uses peptide technology, breaks down quickly in the environment, has no adverse effects on non-target organisms, has a safety interval of zero days, and has unlimited maximum residue limits in harvested grains or crops. PHC68949 can be foliar sprayed or used as a seed treatment agent for on-farm and industrial seed treatment, providing growers with a highly flexible means of nematode control.

At the recent Brazilian Congress of Line Entomology (CBN 2023), Ingal Agrotecnologia launched its own product, Organic Bloom. It is a plant bioactivator that stimulates plant resistance to pests and diseases. This organic solution is based on phytic acid extracted from rice bran and amino acids extracted from soybeans. Years of research have shown that Organic Bloom is also effective against major nematodes that affect soybean, corn, bean and cotton yields.