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Title: 2002 FIELD EVALUATION OF COTTON CULTIVAR RESPONSE TO RENIFORM NEMATODES

Author
item COOK, C - SYNGENTA SEEDS, INC.
item Robinson, Arin
item Bridges, Alan
item Percival Jr, Albert
item PRINCE, W - SYNGENTA SEEDS, INC.
item Bradford, Joe
item Bautista, Jose

Submitted to: 2003 Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2003
Publication Date: 3/5/2003
Citation: Cook, C.G., Robinson, A.F., Bridges, A.C., Percival, Jr., A.E., Prince, W.B., Bradford, J.M., Bautista, J.A. 2003. 2002 Field evaluation of cotton cultivar response to reniform nematodes. In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 6-10, 2003, Nashville, Tennessee. 2003 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: There are many kinds of microscopic worms called nematodes that feed on the roots of cotton and other crops, debilitating the plants and markedly decreasing yields. The direct losses to U.S. cotton farmers caused by nematodes each year are estimated by the National Cotton Council to exceed $300,000,000. The reniform nematode is one of the most important nematodes on cotton in the U.S. Cotton seed companies need new sources of resistance that their plant breeders can use to develop resistant varieties for farmers. The purpose of this study was to examine types of cotton to find out if any of them are resistant to the nematode. We identified several sources of resistance that were better than any previously available. Cotton seed companies can utilize all of these materials to develop nematode-resistant commercial varieties that allow farmers to reduce nematicide use, increase production, and improve cotton quality.

Technical Abstract: In recent years, reniform nematodes have become a serious pest to U.S. cotton production. The USDA-ARS at Weslaco, TX has maintained a nursery for evaluating cotton cultivar response to reniform nematodes. Thirty-six entries from private and public breeding programs were evaluated in 2002. Average yield reduction between the fumigated and reniform nematode infested plots was 22.5%. Fourteen entries had significantly higher lint yields than Stoneville 474 in the reniform nematode infested plots. Four entries in the fumigated treatment, Jajo 8185, DPL 545BG/RR, Syngenta NX RN00516, and DPX 03X133, produced higher yields than Stoneville 474. Percent yield loss between treatments were lowest for Syngenta NX 00VC151 (10.3%), Syngenta NX 2723ct (12.2%), Phytogen PSC 01NM-477 (12.8%), Syngenta NX 00VC133 (14.5%) and Phytogen PSC 01NM-481 (14.5%). Reduction in yield between treatments was greatest for Stoneville 474 (33.2%).