Aphids cost US agriculture billions of dollars/year in yield losses and costs of pesticide application used in aphid control. In recent years, the soybean aphid has been a serious problem for Iowa soybean producers, costing them millions of dollars in aphid control (pesticide application) and/or yield loss. Genetic resistance is inadequate and other effective management options are limiting.

This continuing project is investigating the use of viruses and/or virus genes to kill or control the soybean aphid. This new approach may lead to new biological control and/or transgenic resistance tools to reduce or eliminate yield loss results from soybean aphid infestations.