Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV management using seed-treatment with the insecticide imidacloprid

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the insecticide imidacloprid as seed treatment against Barley yellow dwarf virus–PAV (BYDV-PAV) infection in barley. Artificial inoculation of resistant (QB 813-2) and susceptible (Manel, Rihane and Cyclon) barley cultivars with BYDV-PAV under field conditions was conducted through the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi). Following inoculation, virus incidence was monitored on the various cultivars, and growth parameters such as plant height, biomass, grain yield and thousand seed weight were measured. Seed treatment with imidacloprid, was applied at concentrations of 0.7, 1.4 and 2 g a.i/kg seed. The highest reduction in BYDV incidence was observed after treatment with the concentration of 1.4 g a.i/kg seed. The results also indicated that the 1.4 g a.i/kg seed treatment significantly reduced the impact of BYDV-PAV infection on plant height for the susceptible cultivars Manel and Cyclon. An improvement in the biomass, grain yield and thousand kernels weight was recorded after imidacloprid treatment of the susceptible cultivars at the concentration of 1.4 g a.i/kg seed, and this concentration can be considered an economic practice for BYDV management in barley fields at locations where BYDV incidence is high.