Bionematicides in Northeastern Brazil: the use of native microorganisms for sustainable agriculture

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24302/sma.v14.5791

Abstract

There are widespread reports of economic losses in Brazilian agriculture due to nematodes, resulting from inadequate soil management and the improper application of chemicals. In 2023 alone, MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Supply) registered more than 36 chemical substances with nematicidal action, of which only three pose no environmental risk. Brazil is one of the largest consumers of agrochemicals; over the past 40 years, pesticide use has increased by more than 700%. The search for effective biocontrol is crucial for more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. Plant nematode management using biological products is a viable option. Bionematicides, biocontrol agents that employ antagonistic microorganisms, have proven to be more effective and sustainable in controlling these parasites through competition, antibiosis, and parasitism. The objective of this study is to conduct a bibliographic survey of research developed in the search for new technologies that provide support for the integrated biocontrol of nematodes. These biological pesticides have demonstrated the potential of bioproducts for the biological control of these parasites. The Brazilian biological nematicides market has the potential to become a pioneer in the large-scale use of these types of bioinputs, meeting a growing global demand for more sustainable agricultural expansion.

Key words: bionematicides; nematodes; sustainable agriculture; phytonematoids.

Author Biographies

  • Yrlânia de Lira Guerra, Northeast Strategic Technologies Center - CETENE

    Is an Agricultural Engineer (2010), Master in Phytopathology (2013), and PhD in Agronomy - Genetic Improvement of Plants (2017), from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE). She is currently a researcher in the Institutional Training Program of the Center for Strategic Technologies of the Northeast - CETENE, composing the research team in the area of ​​bioinputs for the control of phytonematodes, with the possibility of generating a patent. She was a researcher in the CETENE project for the Recomposition and optimization of GERMOBIO in vitro, with micropropagated sugarcane plants via meristems. She worked as a Technical Advisor for research and production, providing support for the research developed, writing reports and in the large-scale production of the Biofactory. She worked as a production programmer for 3 years in the biotechnology area, with an emphasis on tissue cultures and plant acclimatization at CETENE's Miguel Arraes Biofactory. She has experience in research on plant pathogens and alternative control with essential oils, and participated in the research group for the development of a new variety of peanuts, both through EMBRAPA-Cotton (DTI-C scholarship holder). She was a professor of the Pedagogy course at Uninta University (Guest Professor at Uninta - PE). In addition, her other skills in the area of ​​Agronomy include Phytopathology and Phytotechnics, working on research projects such as: Microbiology of fungi and bacteria, Mycology, Epidemiology of fungi, Alternative control of plant diseases, Biotechnology, Plant physiology under abiotic stress conditions and in large crops.

  • Aline Fernandes de Melo, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco / Student

    PhD student in Phytopathology (Nematology) at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. Master in Phytopathology (Nematology) at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco; Bachelor in Agronomy at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, working with the Plant Health Department of UFRPE. PhD with emphasis on nematofauna associated with banana farming in the State of Pernambuco. Work in rural extension with management of black yam peel in the forest zone of Pernambuco and coastal region of Paraíba. Experience in studies and experiments with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (FBN) in corn genotypes in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco.

  • Lilian Margarete Paes Guimarães, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco / Professor

    Associate Professor II of the Agronomy course at UFRPE. He holds a degree in Agronomy from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (1999), a Master's degree in Plant Health from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (2002) and a PhD in Plant Pathology from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (2007). He was a visiting researcher at the Carpina Sugarcane Experimental Station (EECAC), linked to the FACEPE/CNPq Regional Scientific Development Program (2009). Postdoctoral degree from the National Postdoctoral Program-PNPD/CAPES, in Plant Pathology at UFRPE, area of ​​concentration in phytonematology. He taught from 2011 to 2014 at the Center for Agrarian Sciences at UFPB in Areia-PB. Professor of the Postgraduate Program in Plant Pathology at UFRPE, developing research in the area of ​​​​Phytonematology.

  • Bianca Galúcio Pereira Araújo, Center for Strategic Technologies of the Northeast / Full Technologist of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

    Full Technologist at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) with a position at the Center for Strategic Technologies of the Northeast (Cetene) in Recife-PE. PhD in Plant Genetic Improvement from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) 2022, Master in Agriculture in the Humid Tropics from the National Institute for Amazonian Research (Inpa) 2010, Specialist in Innovation Agent and Technological Diffusion from the Foundation Center for Analysis of Research and Technological Innovation (Fucapi) 2006 and Graduated in Agronomic Engineering from the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam) 2001. Developed PD and Extension activities from 2002 to 2016 at Inpa in Manaus - AM, in the areas of phytobacteriology, soil microbiology, phytotechnics of Amazonian fruit trees and transfer of agroecological social technologies. Since 2016, she has been working at Cetene with RDI and Technology Transfer in the area of ​​Biotechnology of bioinputs with biofertilizer, biopesticide and soil bioconditioner action; genetic fidelity and phytosanitary control of species of agricultural interest. She is Technical Responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) for the industrial-scale production of micropropagation of agricultural and forestry species produced at the Biofábrica Governador Miguel Arraes; Technical Responsible for the Bioprocesses Laboratory (Labio), Genetic Fidelity and Phytosanitary Control Laboratory (Ladif) and Technological Innovation Center - NIT. She is a member of the Cetene Employee Health and Safety Committee; member of the PCI/Cetene Scholarship Pre-qualification Committee, Coordinator of the Agritech-Northeast Project and North Regional Coordinator of the Future Scientists Program. Since 2021, she has been working as a volunteer researcher in the area of ​​Food Production at the Research and Teaching Institute for Sustainable Development (IPEDS) and a member of the Amazonas State Council for Food and Nutrition Security (Consea-AM).

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Published

2025-09-30

Issue

Vol. 14 (2025)

Section

Artigos

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How to Cite

1.
Guerra Y de L, Melo AF de, Guimarães LMP, Araújo BGP. Bionematicides in Northeastern Brazil: the use of native microorganisms for sustainable agriculture. Saúde e meio ambient.: rev. interdisciplin. [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 30 [cited 2025 Dec. 8];14:191-207. Available from: https://www.periodicos.unc.br/index.php/sma/article/view/5791