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Starting right wins the fight
S
ince 2013, growers have used Poncho
®
/VOTiVO
®
for its consist-
ent protection and yield advantage. Today it is still the leading
insecticide seed treatment in South Africa, and for a very good
reason.
It provides superior protection against a wide range of soil
insects, it is safe on the seed for at least two seasons, it contains
biological barrier against nematode attack and it has added yield
benefits over and above direct protection.
What is Poncho/VOTiVO?
Poncho/VOTiVO is a seed-applied product that combines proven
early season insect control with protection from a broad range of
nematodes in maize.
The Poncho/VOTiVO active ingredient for insect control is clothiani-
din. The VOTiVO part is the bacterium
Bacillus firmus
which forms
a revolutionary biological barrier around the maize plant roots, de-
terring nematodes from attack.
What pests does it control?
On maize
Astylus
larvae, black maize beetle, lesser false wireworm, dusty
surface beetle, wireworm, maize rootworm, greater false wire-
worm, ground weevils and leafhoppers.
How does it protect plants against
nematodes?
The bacteria in Poncho/VOTiVO are applied directly to the seed
and once the seed is planted and the environment is favourable for
seed germination, the bacteria begin to grow and multiply.
These bacteria continue to increase in number side-by-side with
the developing root, growing with the plant to protect roots from
nematode damage during the critical stage of plant establishment.
The bacteria then competes with nematodes for space and food re-
sources.
The Poncho/VOTiVO bacteria form a protective barrier around the
young root in the rhizosphere (root zone) of the soil. The bacteria use
root exudates, a food source for nematodes, which means that the
nematodes can't find the roots.
Fewer nematodes therefore reach the root surface, and some
even die from lack of nutrients. Poncho/VOTiVO does not directly kill
nematodes, but it renders many of them ineffective.
Does it provide any disease protection?
Poncho/VOTiVO decreases nematode damage to roots that can
lead to disease (nematodes damage the roots causing a path of entry
for pathogens). Nematodes feed by piercing root tissue with sharp
mouth parts called stylets. The ensuing punctures serve as points
of entry for several significant plant pathogens that cause seedling
diseases.
Soil insect feeding also damages young root tissue causing open-
ings that other soil-borne pests use as a means to establish
infections.
Are nematodes a problem in maize in
South Africa?
Nematodes can cause up to 30% crop losses in maize without exhibit-
ing any above-ground symptoms. There are several species of
plant pathogenic nematodes that can be found in maize, including
needle, root-lesion, lance, dagger, stubby root, sting, spiral, root-
knot and stunt.
Depending on type and severity of infestation, nematodes can
cause stunting, chlorosis, root decay and other damage. In South
Africa the awareness of nematodes has increased exponentially
over the past two to three years and the more we learn the more we
see that nematodes pose a big threat to maize crops in South Africa.
What additional yield benefits does the
product provide?
Apart from all the pests acting as yield-robbers, which it keeps at
bay during the crucial first weeks following establishment, the
bacteria in Poncho/VOTiVO are also able to form the phyto-hormone
IAA (Auxin), which is the plant growth hormone.
This increases yields even in the absence of nematodes, offering
unique advantages compared to other seed treatments.
Is it safe on the seed, including
carry-over seed?
The germination of seed treated with Poncho/VOTiVO has been
evaluated in the field and in the laboratory using industry-standard
germination tests.
These studies show it has no impact on germination. Storability tests
reveal no concerns when carrying seed treated the previous year
with Poncho/VOTiVO. In addition to this, it has been proven to also
have excellent control of storage insects following treatment during
storage for at least twelve months.
How quickly does it start working?
The bacteria in Poncho/VOTiVO protect plants from the first day
onward. As soon as the seed germinates, the bacteria multiply
exponentially, covering roots and protecting plants from nematode
damage. The insecticide component also offers fast-acting, long-
lasting insect control.
How long does the protection last?
It provides protection through the critical time of plant develop-
ment – seed germination, seedling emergence and the establish-
ment of the plant’s production potential.
Research shows the VOTiVO bacteria on the roots and in the
rhizosphere six to seven weeks following seed germination.
ADVERTORIAL
JAN COETZER,
SeedGrowth manager: Bayer