THE APHICIDAL ACTION OF SOME SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDES APPLIED TO SEEDS

When large seeds such as broad bean are soaked in certain systemic insecticides, notably demeton, the plants which they produce are toxic to aphids. With small seeds the effect is difficult to detect.
Experiments with demeton solutions and broad beans show that equal quantities of water and demeton are absorbed. Beans vary greatly in the rate at which they absorb solution, so, to reduce variations, about 24 hr. soaking is necessary. The insecticidal activity of the plant is directly related to the quantity of solution absorbed by the seed. Larger bean seeds absorb more solution than small beans and the plants are more toxic. After short periods of soaking (4 hr.) there is more insecticide in the seed coat than in the cotyledons, after 24 hr. there is more in the cotyledons. Some of the toxic material in the seed reaches the growing plant via the soil and roots. The material in the cotyledons can pass directly to the growing plant. As some of the material absorbed by the seed passes into the soil, any factors such as an increase in soil volume or heavy watering which tend to dilute the insecticides reduce the quantity of toxic material reaching the plant. The same quantity of demeton is more effective when absorbed by a seed than when watered on to the soil around it. Seeds soaked in insecticide, dried, and stored for one month produced plants toxic to aphids.