Development of a bioproduct the basis of Trichoderma and nutrients for seed treatment

• Grant number: 15/22645-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: May 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Josegueri Celeri
• Grantee: Josegueri Celeri
• Company: Vital Brasil Chemical Indústria e Comércio de Produtos Químicos Ltda. - ME
• City: Barretos
• Associated researchers: Celeste Paola D'Alessandro ; Italo Delalibera Júnior ; Juliana Patricia Braga ; Leandro Monteiro Poliselli
• Associated research grant(s): 17/05214-0 - Development of a bioproduct the basis of Trichoderma and nutrients for seed treatment, AP.PIPE

Abstract

The company Vital Brazil operates in the agricultural market for eight years selling products in plant nutrition foliar and soil. Since 2013, the company is expanding to develop a line of special products based on beneficial microorganisms for crops and eliminating the risk of environmental contamination. Therefore, this project aims to bring to market an innovative bioproduct based on the fungus Trichoderma sp. and nutrients (calcium carbonate and humic acid) that when applied to the seed coat of soybean, bean and corn, increase the availability and absorption of nutrients, reducing the effects of phytopathogenic fungi and promote plant growth. The strain ESALQ-2913 of Trichoderma sp. was selected by the Laboratory of Pathology and Microbial Control of Insects, ESALQ-USP due to its high spore production by solid fermentation and antagonist of soybean pathogens, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizotocnia solani. Fertilization of plants with calcium and humic acid stimulates plant metabolism leading to increased growth and resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic stress. The company Vital Brazil holds technologies for the encapsulation of fertilizers with layers of calcium carbonate, humic acid and inert to allow the covering of the seeds more efficiently compared with the seed treatments commonly used in Brazil. However, it is necessary to adjust the wettable powder formulation based on Trichoderma sp., calcium carbonate and humic acid such as: the ratio of formulation components and inert materials to enable the grip and stability of the bioproduct to the seeds, the shelf life period maximum formulation does not decrease the viability of the fungus Trichoderma sp., the form of seed treatment, molecular identification of Trichoderma sp. ESALQ-2913, the growth promotion and inhibition of growth of pathogens in soybean seeds, beans and corn treated with the bioproduct. This research project will contribute in the agricultural market a new bioproduct with high quality and great potential for commercialization, with quality equal or superior to competitors who have developed products only the basis of Trichoderma sp., but with high ease of seed treatment, and multiple advantages for the health of soybean, bean and corn. (AU)