Compatibility of Imidacloprid with Fungicides as a Seed-Treatment Control of Russian Wheat Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Effect on Germination, Growth, and Yield of Wheat and Barley

Abstract

Imidacloprid insecticide, applied as a seed treatment, singly or in combination with fungicides (carboxin-thiram, triadimenol-captan, and tebuconazole-thiram), protected growing plants of wheat and barley from developing infestations of Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) for 27-85 d after planting based on four greenhouse and four field trials. There were no compatibility problems in insecticide performance by combining imidacloprid with fungicides on the seed. Imidacloprid significantly reduced plant damage by D. noxia in all trials and increased yields in three of three field trials where plots were entirely infested. As a seed treatment, imidacloprid offers an environmentally safer approach to the control of D. noxia than is possible with wide-spectrum aerial or in-furrow granular insecticide treatments.