Indigo Ag today announced the commercial launch of the company’s first bionematicide for the U.S. market. A continuation of the company’s biological innovations, biotrinsic® Z15 for soybean and corn not only expands the company’s biological portfolio, but it also provides farmers with a new line of defense against soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and other plant-damaging nematodes.

“Nematodes are often considered the silent yield killer because they can reduce yields without any visible above-ground indicators. Soybean cyst nematodes alone cause an estimated $1.5 billion in crop losses in the U.S., making it a priority for both farmers and retailers,” said Georg Goeres, global head of biologicals for Indigo Ag. “Despite that fact that there are several nematicide products available – both synthetic and biological – soybean cyst nematodes continue to spread geographically and the economic losses are increasing. Farmers need new products that are effective in combating these pests. biotrinsic Z15 combines multiple defense and protective actions, providing an effective new choice for farmers.”

From Indigo’s library of over 36,000 microbial strains — one of the largest and most diverse collections of microbial endophytes in the world — biotrinsic Z15’s proprietary strain of Streptomyces sp., a naturally occurring bacterium, colonizes plant roots to form a living and expanding shroud of protection.

Z15 combines multiple microbially-enhanced plant defenses, including induced systemic resistance, protective root colonization and the production of secondary metabolites. biotrinsic Z15 works to repel and partially paralyze nematodes, limiting their access to roots, and reducing nematode reproduction.

Additionally, Z15 boosts important determinants of soil health. It does not interfere with beneficial nematodes and enhances root growth and vegetative growth, improving nutrient use efficiency and helping increase yields. In fact, in high-nematode-stress trials, biotrinsic Z15 not only defended plants, but it also helped increase corn yields by 2.8 bu/a and soybean yields by more than 1.0 bu/a.

“Anytime we can use products that work with the plants to naturally help them protect themselves, rather than adding a synthetic element, it’s a win-win in our book,” said Blake Jones, co-founder and owner of Xceleration Ag, an Illinois-based agricultural retailer.

Produced as a flowable powder formulation, biotrinsic Z15 is labeled for use on both corn and soybeans, requires no special equipment or training to apply and is adaptable for commercial or on-farm application. The product is also approved by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee to have the N-UNB code, which lets growers alternate or use multiple modes of actions to prevent resistance.

Like other biological products available in the biotrinsic line, Z15 is available through local ag retailers.

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