en.Wedoany.com Reported - Two microencapsulated suspension-suspension concentrate products containing fluopyram have been registered in China: Jiangxi Zhengbang's 7% abamectin·fluopyram ZC and Hebei Saifeng's 15% abamectin·fluopyram ZC, for controlling root-knot nematodes in cucumbers and tomatoes.
This marks the first registration of fluopyram as a microencapsulated formulation, indicating new progress in the development of nematicidal formulations for this active ingredient.
Fluopyram, as a nematicide, acts on mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain complex II, making it the world's first nematicide targeting this site. It is also considered a low-toxicity option for users and the environment. Its unique target attribute provides value in resistance management for nematode control.
To date, there are 24 registrations for combinations of fluopyram and abamectin, with distinct formulation distribution: suspension concentrates (SC) dominate with 17 registrations, covering four concentration gradients of 5%, 8%, 15%, and 28%; granules (GR) account for 4 registrations, including 0.45%, 1.5%, and 3% grades; microencapsulated suspension-suspension concentrates (ZC) have 2 registrations, namely the 7% and 15% products registered this time; and water-dispersible granules (WG) have 1 registration, a 60% high-concentration specification. The first registration of microencapsulated formulations has altered the previous landscape where suspension concentrates accounted for nearly 80% of the market.
From a formulation technology perspective, products combining abamectin and fluopyram previously faced two major technical bottlenecks: first, abamectin is sensitive to photolysis and soil pH, resulting in short field persistence, and conventional formulations are prone to agglomeration and solidification, affecting storage stability; second, conventional formulations rely on large amounts of organic solvents, leading to higher environmental externalities.
Microencapsulation technology offers a solution to these issues. Encapsulating abamectin in microcapsules and combining it with fluopyram can physically shield the active ingredient from direct contact with external environments such as light and soil pH, extending the persistence of abamectin. Additionally, by optimizing the adjuvant system, a more stable microencapsulated suspension-suspension concentrate can be constructed, improving storage stability and extending shelf life, while reducing application frequency and per-acre dosage. Furthermore, the preparation process does not use organic solvents, helping to reduce the environmental impact of pesticide application.
From an industrial competition perspective, the implementation of these two ZC registrations indicates that the formulation options for fluopyram in nematode control are expanding from traditional SC, GR, and WG to sustained-release technology platforms. For the suspension concentrate market, which already faces homogenized competition, the differentiated positioning of microencapsulated formulations may alter the value chain distribution in root-knot nematode control.
