Archive for the ‘Beneficial Nemetodes’ Category

Dudutech Webinar: Understanding Nematodes for Practical Farmers

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Globally, nematodes cause US$125 billion in crop losses, making them the single most important pest to threaten food security. With over 4100 phytoparasitic nematode species threatening global crops and increasing pressure to reduce reliance on chemical controls, understanding and implementing effective and sustainable management is critical in 2023.

We have joined up with Ecospray and UK-based nematode control expert Dr Colin Fleming for a global webinar to empower our growers with useful and practical information on nematodes.

Topics:

  • Plant Parasitic Nematodes – biology, ecology and diversity
  • Signs and symptoms of PPN attack – Economic importance to farmers
  • How nematodes interact with plants
  • Nematodes as Biocontrols for pests
  • Biology, ecology and diversity
  • Integrated Management of Nematodes
  • Tools and methods for sustainable management of Nematodes

Watch the webinar recording here:

NEMATECH H ® SP

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NEMATECH H® SP is a biological insecticide containing Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, a naturally occurring beetle-killing (entomopathogenic) nematode used to manage Beetles, Fungus Gnats, White Grubs and Cutworms. The infective juvenile nematodes enter the insect’s body to complete their life-cycle, killing the pest in the process.

NEMATECH C ® SP

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NEMATECH C® SP is a biological insecticide containing infective juveniles of Steinernema carpocapsae, a naturally occurring insect-killing (entomopathogenic) nematode used to manage Leatherjackets and Cutworms. The nematodes enter the insect’s body to complete their life-cycle, killing the insect in the process.

Get a 30% discount on Microbials – TRICHOTECH, MYTECH, BEAUVITECH, LECATECH and NEMATECH S

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Using beneficial nematodes and fungi as biocontrols allows growers to easily defend their crops on a microscopic level, helping improve plant and soil health, as well as promoting the health and safety of end customers and farmers alike.

Crop roots are vulnerable to attack by a variety of insect pests and fungal diseases which co-habit the root zone or live on their folaige. Integrating our microbial range into a crop protection programme allows growers to defend their plants with naturally occurring beneficial fungi and nematode colonies. Healthier roots and leaves allow nutrients to flow more readily, boosting plant growth and ultimately their yield.

About BEAUVITECH WP

BEAUVITECH® WP is a biological insecticide containing Beauveria bassiana, a natural insect-killing fungus used to sustainably manage soft-bodied insects such as Thrips and Whitefly. BEAUVITECH® WP spores germinate on their target host, over time killing it before emerging and releasing spores to begin their lifecycle again – this infection is also called White Muscardine disease.

Fig. 1. BEAUVITECH® WP mode of action.

Read more about BEAUVITECH® WP.

About LECATECH WP

LECATECH® WP is a biological insecticide containing Lecanicillum lecanii, a natural insect-killing fungus used to sustainably manage soft-bodied insects such as Thrips and Whitefly. LECATECH® WP spores germinate on their target host, over time killing it before emerging and releasing spores to begin their lifecycle again.


Fig. 1. LECATECH® WP mode of action.

Read more about LECATECH® WP.

About MYTECH WP

MYTECH® WP is a biological nematicide containing Paecilomyces lilacinus (F18), a naturally occurring nematode killing-fungus used to sustainably manage plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) including Root knot, Cyst, Root lesion, Burrowing and Reniform amongst others. MYTECH® WP parasitizes and subsequently kills all life stages of target PPNs.

Fig. 1. MYTECH® WP mode of action.

Read more about MYTECH® WP.

About TRICHOTECH WP

TRICHOTECH ® WP contains Trichoderma asperellum a soil-dwelling fungi used to defend crops against disease-causing fungi Fusarium spp., Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia spp. and Sclerotinia spp. TRICHOTECH ® WP also aids in releasing nutrients stored in organic matter and boosts plant development.

Fig. 2. TRICHOTECH® WP mode of action.

Read more about TRICHOTECH® WP.

About NEMATECH S SP

NEMATECH S ® SP contains infective juvenile stages of Steinernema feltiae, a beneficial nematode used to defend crop roots against Thrips and Whitefly by attacking their soil-dwelling pupal stages. The nematodes in NEMATECH S ® SP actively seek out pupal Thrips and Whitefly in the soil to infect and complete their reproduction cycle, killing the target before multiplying and emerging to find a new host.


Fig. 2. NEMATECH S SP® WP mode of action.

Read more about NEMATECH S® SP.

Offer valid only in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda until 15 April 2023.

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Understanding nematodes could unlock the potential of your farm.

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A key to unlocking the potential of a crop is buried in the upper layers of the soil. Living within soil water pockets are worm-like micro-organisms called nematodes (phylum Nematoda). These tiny creatures amass large populations and in agriculture, they can help or hinder. Some nematodes are plant-parasitic (or PPNs for short), causing over $100 billion in crop damage annually, while others are beneficial, holding enormous potential for sustainable crop protection or helping make nutrients more readily available to plants.

By Cory Smit and Catherine Gacheri

Nematodes are some of the most abundant animals on Earth. Nematology, the study of nematodes, is vast, having identified over 28 thousand species to date, many with feeding habits which are important in agriculture. Fortunately, there are a few fundamentals that farmers can use to simplify and act on the information.

  1. Some nematodes are crop pests, feeding on or infecting roots, bulbs or leaves. The image above is a typical example of a Root-Knot Nematode or Meloidogyne spp. infection of roots. (Photo: Scot Nelson, 2017. Meloidogyne incognita on Solanum lycopersicum.).
  2. Some nematodes are beneficial in killing crop pests and while others help unlock nutrients.
  3. Routinely monitor nematodes in all growing areas using professional nematode analysis, and deploy the recommendations.
  4. Nematodes reproduce quickly and in massive numbers – good news if they are beneficial, bad news if they are pests.


Fig. 1. Typical nematode lifecycle. Duration depends on species and other factors.

Do nematodes speed up the release of nutrients?

The interplay between bacteria, fungi and beneficial nematodes that feed on them can contribute to the supply of nitrogen and accelerate the mineralization of untapped organic nutrients. By consuming the bacteria and fungi which break down compost within the soil, these nematodes can speed up the release of nitrogen into the soil by releasing excess nutrients, making it available for crops to use.

Tip: Growers can stimulate this process by incorporating manure and compost into the soil to provide a habitat for bacterial and fungal colonies to grow in, making new food for the beneficial nematodes 

Can nematodes be used as Biocontrols?

Dudutech’s research and development of nematodes as biocontrols take advantage of species which kill crop pests, called Entomopathogenic Nematodes (EPNs). EPNs find and kill their target pest to use in their reproductive cycle. Using EPNs helps growers reduce their reliance on chemicals which may unintentionally harm the soil ecology and non-target beneficial micro-organisms.

Using research on their host range, Dudutech developed four nematode-based products to tackle key pests. These include:

  • NEMATECH® S – Steinernema feltiae D2 – for Thrips and Sciarid Flies,
  • NEMATECH C – Steinernema carpocapsae – for Cutworm,
  • NEMATECH HHeterorhabditis bacteriophora F27 – for beetles,
  • SLUGTECHPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita M1 – for slugs and snails.

The ability of infective juveniles to quickly seek out and kill their target before spreading to new hosts makes these beneficial nematodes powerful agricultural tools for the sustainable management of a wide variety of crop pests. In particular, nematodes are widely used in integrated pest management of Thrips.


Fig. 3. Nematech S SP mode of action.

Due to their complex lifecycles, no single control option can provide satisfactory control of Thrips. If any part of their lifecycle is left unmanaged, the populations can become “resident” and quickly boom, causing significant damage to crops.

In most cases, Thrips infestations in greenhouse crops are from resident populations.
Most thrips species including Western Flower Thrips (WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis) spend up to one-third of their lifecycle in the soil. When used with above-ground predators, such as AMBLYTECH and MONTECH, and traps (STICKTECH), the nematodes in NEMATECH® S play an important role underground in the biocontrol strategy by killing Thrips in their soil-living stages.

How can farmers sustainably manage plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs)?

PPNs are crop pests, causing lesions, cysts and rot in the root system. Blue, yellow and red (Toxicity Classes 3 through 1 a and b) chemical nematicides pose numerous problems with far-reaching effects for growers and consumers including the development of nematicide resistance, exceeding residue limits (MRLs) and negative effects on non-target organisms. These issues have far-reaching effects for farmers as they make pesticide applications more expensive, restrict access to markets and harm beneficial nematodes living alongside pest nematodes.

To help growers tackle these nematodes in a sustainable way, Dudutech has paired MYTECH® and NEMguard. MYTECH® contains a powerful nematophagous fungus (Paecilomyces lilacinus) which selectively targets plant-parasitic nematodes. Mytech kills all life stages of most plant-parasitic nematodes. The fungal spores on treated crops attach to their target and form mycelia on the host, feeding on it before releasing spores to begin the cycle over.


Fig. 4. Mytech mode of action.

NEMguard® is a powerful environmentally intelligent nematicide containing plant-sourced ingredients which can be used to control PPNs. The (proprietary) polysulphides contained in NEMguard rapidly cause oxidative stress and kills PPNs. Due to their biology, beneficial nematodes are less affected by NEMguard when compared to routinely used broad spectrum nematicides which may damage the environment.


Fig. 5. NEMguard SC mode of action.

The soil beneath crops is a complex but delicate ecosystem. By looking after it sustainably, growers can take advantage of the plant health benefits afforded by healthy soils.

Interested in finding out more?

Click here to send us a message or use our chat channel on our website.

Steinernema carpocapsae production underway at Dudutech’s biorational labs

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S. carpocapsae is a powerful novel entomopathogenic nematode already in use in Europe and the US, and our production capabilities have helped create additional availability.

Cutworms (Agrotis spp.) and leatherjackets (Tipula spp.) are larval stage pests that damage vegetable, cereal and root crops by biting and feeding on the plant stems and leaves. To combat these pests, Dudutech has begun production and R&D of Steinernema carpocapsae a deadly pest-parasitic nematode that targets Agrotis spp. and Tipula spp. to complete their lifecycle.

Fig. 1. Typical S. carpocapsae lifecycle.

Watch this space for more news and information on “Nematech C” development.

SLUGTECH® SP

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SLUGTECH is a biological molluscicide containing infective juveniles of Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (isolate DDT M1) in an inert carrier for the control of agricultural and horticultural molluscs, including slugs, e.g. Deroceras reticulatum and snails, e.g. Monacha cantiana that are harmful to plants in the field or greenhouse.

NEMATECH S ® SP

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NEMATECH S ® SP is a biological insecticide containing infective juveniles of Steinernema feltiae (isolate DDT – D2) in an inert carrier for the control of Thrips and Sciarid flies in both field or greenhouse set up.