Nematodes are plentiful in soil and can be beneficial to plants as they can eat fungus and bacteria, and also improve the overall health of the soil. However, some nematodes can cause certain problems for plants or crops.
The most commonly treated nematode pests are root-knot, lesion, cyst, stubby root, sting, and dagger nematodes. Fortunately, most species of nematodes either have no effect or are highly beneficial for plants. Many species of nematodes are ‘free-living’, i.e., living in soil, sea, and freshwater, and feed on bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and even in other nematodes, and play a significant role in nutrient cycling and release of nutrients for plant growth. Other nematodes attack insects and help to control insect pests.
But not all nematodes are beneficial. Most plant-feeding nematodes live in the soil and feed on plant roots, thereby reducing the plant’s uptake of water and nutrients and its tolerance to other stresses such as drought. Some can transmit diseases, including viruses, to plants while they feed on them.
When a number of harmful nematodes get too high in the soil, farmers sometimes apply chemicals called fumigants or nematicides to the soil to control them. However, these chemicals can be toxic and hazardous to the health of both human beings and the environment. Some nematicides have been banned because they were found to easily leach through the soil and contaminate drinking water.
In major crop markets, nematicides are used on crops such as potatoes, corn, soybeans, cotton, fruits, and vegetables to control nematode pests in the soil. While there are both non-chemical and chemical treatments, chemical nematicides have active ingredients that can be applied to soil pre-planting or used in-furrow. The most common forms of nematicides include chemicals, fumigants, and biologicals.
Both Bayer and Corteva have recently announced launches of new nematicide brands.
Bayer’s brand, Velum Rise, is a fungicide/nematicide used for the suppression of Rhizoctonia, black dot, nematodes, and other soilborne diseases. With two active ingredients, penflufen and fluopyram, Velum Rise provides growers with the ability to combat nematodes and suppress key diseases in potato crops with a single application from early season disease management and nematode suppression. It was approved for sale in the U.S. by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in November 2023.
Corteva’s brand, Salibro, was launched in October 2023 and contains the active ingredient Reklemel. Salibro nematicide controls plant-parasitic nematodes without disrupting the healthy balance of beneficial organisms in the soil. Sustaining a range of beneficial insects, including pollinators, Salibro nematicide can help soil organisms improve soil quality.
Salibro nematicide is labeled for use in the following crop groups — nonbearing tree nuts, nonbearing grapes, cucurbits, nonbearing stone fruit, carrots, fruiting vegetables, nonbearing citrus, potatoes, and sweet potatoes — with additional crops and use in bearing, and permanent crops (tree nuts, grapes, and citrus) to be added in subsequent registration submissions.
Reklemel active, the active ingredient in Salibro nematicide, is one of the first new active ingredients registered under the U.S. EPA policy that incorporates Endangered Species Act assessments into the registration process for new pesticides. This new process is an important step toward regulatory certainty for farmers and others who rely on important pesticide technology while helping protect listed species and their habitats.
Kline’s Agrochemicals group will soon be launching an update to our Global Nematicides study which features non-chemical and chemical treatments, including the top brands, active ingredients, and suppliers. To be published in 2024, the geographic scope of this global study covers nearly 15 markets including Canada, U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, China, Japan, India, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Australia. Kline is currently accepting charter subscriptions. For more information, please contact us.
