Section 18 for Gaucho requested to combat soybean aphid

摘要

Concerns over the spread of the soybean aphid in several Midwestern states prompted some states to contact EPA to request Section 18 usage for Imidacloprid (Gaucho 480F) seed treatment on soybeans. The soybean aphid can damage soybean plants as wellas serve as a vector for several serious soybean viruses. Soybean aphid can kill soybean plants if an insecticide is not used. Heavy populations coat foliage with a sticky substance, which can result in mold growth on soybean leaves. The mold growth can, in turn, reduce photosynthesis and contribute to yield loss. While foliar insecticides have been used to help cut aphid populations, pest populations can rebound to levels at least as high as pre-treatment levels within a week of application, reports John Wedberg, emeritus professor of entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This could be related to toxicity to insect predators also present in treated fields. Systemic action by seed treatments should avoid direct damage to non-target species, adds Wedberg. In January, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection contacted EPA to request Section 18 usage for Gaucho 480F seed treatment on soybeans. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture followed suit in February. Gustafson, LLC, the manufacturer of the seed treatment, has supported these applications, says Sue Shen, the company's director of regulatory affairs.