“The focus of Embrapa’s research is the development of more productive cultivars, more resistant to diseases and adapted to the tropical environment…”
Vanoli Fronza is a researcher at Embrapa Trigo, with a degree in agronomy from the Federal University of Santa Maria, a M.Sc. in phytotechnics from the Federal University of Viçosa, and a Ph.D. in genetics and plant breeding from ESALQ/USP.
AgriBrasilis – What is “tropical wheat”?
Vanoli Fronza – We consider as tropical wheat all wheat that is not does not require cold and that is grown in warmer regions of Brazil, covering part of the Southeast, Central-West and Northeast regions (State of Bahia).
AgriBrasilis – Why is it good to plant wheat in the Cerrado Biome?
Vanoli Fronza – The Cerrado is a vast agricultural region, which encompasses several states in Brazil and, in some regions, it is also possible to plant wheat, both in rainfed cultivation (without irrigation) and in irrigated cultivation (using a central pivot).
In general, the planting of rainfed wheat is possible in regions with altitudes greater than 700 m and in soils with more than 30% clay, also including areas with lower altitudes in the States of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais. Irrigated cultivation would be recommended for areas with at least 400 m of altitude and in soils with more than 15% clay.
“Planting wheat in the Cerrado diversifies the producing region, since more than 80% of production is concentrated in the South”
Wheat is an excellent alternative for the crop rotation system as it provides straw for the direct sowing system, helps control weeds (reducing control costs in the following crop) and diseases caused by soil fungi, and also as it is not a good host for nematodes. Furthermore, planting wheat in the Cerrado diversifies the producing region, since more than 80% of production is concentrated in the South, increasing national security regarding the supply of wheat from Brazil and helping to reduce imports from other countries, reducing currency evasion.
AgriBrasilis – What research is Embrapa developing with regard to wheat farming?
Vanoli Fronza – The focus of Embrapa’s research is the development of more productive cultivars, more resistant to diseases and adapted to the tropical environment, through its genetic improvement programs for rainfed wheat and irrigated wheat. In recent years, Embrapa has also carried out prospecting studies for wheat planting in other states in the Northeast region (such as Alagoas, Ceará, Maranhão and Piauí) and in the North region (such as Pará and Roraima).
AgriBrasilis – Blast (Pyricularia oryzae) is the biggest bottleneck in research into adapting wheat to the Cerrado. Why?
Vanoli Fronza – The main reason is that, because of the higher temperatures, ear blast is a very common disease in the tropical environment, unlike in the South region, where the main disease is Gibberella zeae. Furthermore, as there are no cultivars that are completely resistant (immune) to the disease on the ear, and as the application of fungicides does not satisfactorily control the disease when climatic conditions are very favorable, there is always a risk that the farmer incurring losses from this disease.
AgriBrasilis – In addition to blast, what other pests and diseases are relevant?
Vanoli Fronza – Generally, there are no problems with other pests and diseases. In terms of diseases, leaf spots may occur, especially in irrigated wheat. In terms of pests, there may be caterpillars.
AgriBrasilis – Why does tropical wheat have an “absolute absence of mycotoxins” and how important is this for the industry?
Vanoli Fronza – As in the tropical environment Gibberella zeae (another disease that attacks wheat ears and whose fungus produces toxins that remain in the grains) is almost non-existent, rarely occurring only in the coldest regions of the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, this is not a problem for tropical wheat. Furthermore, even if blast attacks tropical wheat, it does not leave mycotoxins in the grains, which is an advantage for the milling industry.
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