Effects of ILeVO and Gaucho seed coatings on the suppression of cereal cyst nematode Heterodera filipjevi in wheat

Heterodera filipjevi is one of the most important pathogenic nematodes affecting wheat production and its economic returns. Seed coating is the most convenient and effective method for preventing and controlling cereal cyst nematodes in China. From 2018 to 2019, the highest control effect of ILeVO (120 mL/100 kg) for H. filipjevi reached 21.27 %. Compared with that of the control plants (306.9 g/m 2 ), treatment with 120 mL/100 kg of ILeVO increased the yield (420.13 g/m 2 ) by 36.90 %. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that ILeVO combined with Gaucho exerted a greater effect on H. filipjevi suppression than did ILeVO alone. From 2019 to 2020 and 2020–2021, H. filipjevi suppression by ILeVO (80 mL/100 kg) + Gaucho reached 29.65 % and 30.88 %, respectively. Moreover, the combination of ILeVO and Gaucho enhanced the agronomic characteristics of wheat and provided a substantial yield increase. Under the Gaucho treatment, the wheat yields from 2019 to 2020 and 2020–2021 were 448.00 and 425.33 g/m 2 , respectively, whereas those under the treatment with 80 mL/100 kg of ILeVO + Gaucho were 498.33 and 495.00 g/m 2 , respectively, increasing by 11.24 % and 16.38 %, respectively. The combination of ILeVO and Gaucho reduced ILeVO use, effectively suppressed H. filipjevi and increased the wheat yield, offering a novel approach for H. filipjevi prevention and control. • This is the first report of the nematicidal activity of ILeVO (41.7 % fluopyram SC) against the cereal cyst nematode H. filipjevi . • As a seed coating agent, ILeVO effectively prevents and controls H. filipjevi under field conditions. • ILeVO combined with Gaucho effectively suppressed H. filipjevi by decreasing the number of juveniles and cysts and increasing the yield of wheat.