Isoclast Active

Isoclast™ active is a new insecticide discovered by and proprietary to Dow AgroSciences. It belongs to a new chemical class of insecticides called the sulfoximines. It was developed to control economically important sap-feeding insect pests in major crops.

Cereals (wheat, barley, oats, rye, spring and winter planted triticale), cotton, oilseed rape, fruiting vegetables (tomato, cherry tomato, pepper, eggplant), cucurbits (cucumber, melon, watermelon, zucchini), ornamentals (bulbs, ornamentals, flowers), leafy vegetables (lettuce, endive, witlof, spinach), legumes (beans, green beans, peas), brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), potato, pome fruits (apple, pear), stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries), citrus (lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruit). Note: Check local labels following registration to confirm which crops are registered in the local country.

Isoclast™ active controls the major sap feeding pests in crops, including aphids, whiteflies and some scale insects. It protects against difficult to control species, which have developed resistance to many other insecticides like Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii or Bemisia tabaci. Please check local labels following registration to confirm which local pests are controlled by Isoclast.

Isoclast™ active is an important tool to control sap-feeding insect pests – which can have an enormous negative economic impact on crops. It is fast-acting and its long residual control allows immediate and durable management of target pests. As the sole member of a new class of insecticides, Isoclast is an important partner in a rotation programme. It has a robust lack of cross-resistance with other insecticides, which allows for the control of insect populations resistant to other products, including neonicotinoids. Isoclast is effective at low use rates. It is an excellent fit in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes and is soft on bees when used according to label directions. When used in a manner consistent with label directions, it represents a low risk to non-target organisms and the environment.

Isoclast™ active is a high-efficacy nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist (IRAC Group 4). However, Isoclast belongs to a new class of chemistry known as the sulfoximines (4C), exhibiting complex and unique interactions with the nAChR target site, which are distinct from those observed in other insecticides that interact at this site, including neonicotinoids (4A), nicotine (4B), butenolides (4D) and mesoionics (4E). These significant structural differences drive its unique mode of action and environmental properties, a distinction clearly established by the responsible body for insecticide classifications (IRAC) and published in the open scientific literature.

No. Isoclast™ active belongs to a new chemical class of insecticides called sulfoximines. It is currently the only registered member of this class and belongs to sub-group 4C in the IRAC classification and published in the open scientific literature ^[1]. Neonicotinoids have a different classification and belong to sub-group 4A according to IRAC. In addition to being structurally different from neonicotinoids, Isoclast binds differently to nAChR binding sites than other nAChR agonists including neonicotinoids. It is metabolised differently by insects, resulting in a robust lack of cross resistance with other products, including neonicotinoids.

[1] Published studies: Watson et al. 2011, Oliveira et al. 2011, Watson et al. 2011, Cutler et al. 2013, Sparks et al. 2012, Nauen et al. 2015

Isoclast™ active controls target sap-feeding insect pests by contact and by ingestion. It is also xylem-systemic and translaminar, which means it can control target insects in the plant canopy or on the underside of leaves after they feed on the sap of sprayed plants. Isoclast has excellent quick knockdown and residual efficacies while being compatible with IPM systems.

Isoclast™ active is fast-acting, starting to work as soon as it is applied on the plant and comes in contact with or is ingested by target pests. It has excellent knockdown activity, meaning it immediately starts reducing the target pest population. Peak control normally occurs in 2 to 3 days.

Yes, however the adoption of Isoclast™ active will reduce the use of products that have less favourable environmental profiles. As the sole member of the sulfoximines to be developed commercially, Isoclast is highly effective against populations of sap-feeding insects that are resistant to these alternative insecticides.

The product works under normal crop growing conditions, ideally between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Soil application has not been registered in Europe.

The product works on most growth stages but best performs on young or immature pests, when pest population pressure is not high yet. We therefore recommend monitoring to determine optimal timing.

The product will be registered straight but if local practice or the advisor suggests an adjuvant would be beneficial for the specific crop-pest situation (like citrus scale or whiteflies in vegetables) it might be worth following that advice, as several trials have shown a beneficial adjuvant effect.

Please check with the local country label for mixing approvals.

Isoclast™ active has been used across millions of hectares worldwide over several growing seasons without reported harm on honey bees, even in flowering crops.

Isoclast™ active has demonstrated safety on registered crops when applied according to label recommendations.

Dow AgroSciences conducted residue studies on pollen and nectar. Residues were detected in pollen from plants treated during pre-bloom. No impact was noted on either worker bees or bee larvae (brood) from pollen and nectar collected from plants treated with Isoclast™ active. Concerning the health of bee colonies, available data indicate that Isoclast used in a manner consistent with label directions, will have no long-term negative effect on honey bee colonies.

None have been detected to date.

Isoclast™ active is rainfast in 1 hour.

An acceptable level of risk has been demonstrated immediately after the spray has dried.  Re-entry tasks can thus be conducted without any adverse effects to human health. Risk levels have been assessed according to European requirements. Always check the  label for any specific local requirements.

Dow AgroSciences is committed to help find solutions that arise from an increasing demand for food and agricultural outputs, with decreasing natural resources and challenges posed to bees and bee health. Isoclast™ active brings a much needed solution to the problem of controlling sap-feeding pests that rob and contaminate our food, including those that may be resistant to some commercial insecticide standards. By controlling these pests, pesticides such as Isoclast protect yields and the quality of produce as expected by consumers. The rational use of pesticides within the context of an IPM system contributes to decreasing the clearing of new areas for farming use. Used in conjunction with other appropriate cultural practices, the use of insecticides such as Isoclast would help to increase agricultural productivity and support sustainable agriculture. 

Isoclast™ active has been approved by the European Authorities with no harmful effects on human or animal health, confirmed by its official classification as non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic and non-toxic to reproduction.

Isoclast™ active is supported by a comprehensive and robust scientific dossier, which has met all EU requirements for approval, as confirmed by the European authorities. Furthermore, the substance is not classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (ECHA classification).

A large number of MRL/import tolerances have been set globally.

Isoclast™ active is the brand name, whereas sulfoxaflor is the ISO common name. Dow AgroSciences has created commercial brands for its four newest active ingredients, Arylex™ active, Isoclast™ active, Rinskor™ active and Inatreq™ active, in an effort to help our customers all over the world to better understand our technologies and to make connections among the products that incorporate these active ingredients.