Canola seed treatment composition and method

#The present invention relates to a seed treatment method for canola seeds.

#The importance of using an insecticide seed treatment for protection against flea beetles in canola production is well known. (see, e.g., Knodel et al. 2006 Insecticide Efficacy against Flea Beetles on Canola Trial A., www.ag.ndsu.edu/archive/langdon/06data/fbsyngenta06.pdf). HELIX® (thiamethoxam), GAUCHO®600 (600 g/L imidacloprid), and PONCHO®600 (600 g/L clothianidin) insecticide seed treatments are registered for use on canola.

#U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,088 discloses use of spinosad for treating seed and plant propagation material.

#As used herein, the following terms have the indicated meanings:

#The term “spinosad” refers to a fermentation product comprising a combination of the spinosyn factors spinosyn A and spinosyn D, where spinosyn A comprises 50-95% and spinosyn D comprises 50-5% of the combination. Spinosad may also contain minor amounts of other spinosyn factors. Its activity and applications are summarized in Tomlin, C., ed. A World Compendium The Pesticide Manual. 15th ed. Alton: BCPC Publications, 2009 (hereafter “The Pesticide Manual”). Additional information regarding spinosad is found in “Compendium of Pesticide Common Names” located at http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/index.html as of the filing date of this document.

#The term “clothianidin” refers to [C(E)]-N-[(2-chloro-5-thiazolyl)methyl]-N′-methyl-N″-nitroguanidine, an insecticide. Its structure, activity and applications are summarized in The Pesticide Manual.