Question

The insecticide recommended for the management of sucking insect-pests through seed treatment is:

• A. Imidacloprid
• B. Deltamethrin
• C. Fenvalerate
• D. Malathion

Hint:

Neonicotinoids like Imidacloprid are highly systemic and water-soluble, making them the standard choice for seed treatment to protect young seedlings from early-season sucking pests.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Sucking pests (such as aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, and whiteflies) damage plants by extracting phloem sap and transmitting viral diseases.
Because they feed on systemic plant fluids, systemic insecticides are highly effective.
Seed treatment is an efficient, targeted method to protect young seedlings during their vulnerable early growth stages.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Imidacloprid is a chloronicotinyl (neonicotinoid) insecticide that acts as an agonist on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in the insect central nervous system.
It is highly systemic and has excellent water solubility.
When applied as a seed treatment, imidacloprid is absorbed by the roots of the germinating seedling and translocated upward throughout the growing foliage.
When sucking pests feed on the sap of these young tissues, they ingest the toxin and are controlled.
This targeted application reduces the need for early-season foliar sprays, preserving natural predators and minimizing environmental contamination.
In contrast:
- Deltamethrin (B) and Fenvalerate (C) are synthetic pyrethroids that act primarily as non-systemic contact poisons.
- Malathion (D) is an organophosphate contact insecticide.
These contact poisons are not suitable or effective for systemic translocation via seed treatment.
Therefore, imidacloprid is the recommended insecticide.

Step 3: Final Answer
The insecticide recommended for managing sucking pests via seed treatment is imidacloprid.