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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » LAPRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359345
Research Project: Cattle Fever Tick Control and Eradication

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pests Research

Title: Integration of cotton plant resistance with selected organic boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) control tactics

Author
item CAMPOS, KAROLAYNE - UNIVERSITY OF BRASILIA
item ALVES DE ARAUJO, TAMRIRS - UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VICOSA
item Showler, Allan
item LUZ, CARLOS - UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VICOSA
item DA SILVA, WESLLEY - UNIVERSITY OF BRASILIA
item DE FIGUEIREDO, C.C. - UNIVERSITY OF BRASILIA
item TORRES, JORGE - NON ARS EMPLOYEE
item BASTOS, CRISTINA - UNIVERSITY OF BRASILIA

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2019
Publication Date: 4/15/2019
Citation: Campos, K.L., Alves De Araujo, T., Showler, A., Luz, C.E., Da Silva, W.B., De Figueiredo, C., Torres, J.B., Bastos, C.S. 2019. Integration of cotton plant resistance with selected organic boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) control tactics. Journal of Agricultural Science. 11(5). https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n5p1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n5p1

Interpretive Summary: The boll weevil is one of the key pests of cotton production in conventional and organic systems. We assessed the use of resistant and susceptible cotton cultivars, a neem-based insecticide (Natuneem), and trapping with an attractant boll weevil pheromone as possible control tactics. In the first of two growing seasons we evaluated resistance of four colored fiber cotton cultivars and a white fiber cotton variety, against boll weevil attack. In the second growing season we assessed three colored cotton cultivars grown in and without close association of the white variety, and two control tactics: the neem-based pesticide and trapping. Because the white cotton variety showed resistance against boll weevils in the first growing season, it was selected to be planted in close association with more susceptible colored cultivars in the second growing season. Field plots with white and colored cotton cultivars reduced the need to control boll weevils using the neem-based insecticide. Control by the neem-based insecticide and by trapping were of comparable value although the traps provided measurable control during early cotton growth stages and the neem-based inscecticide provided measurable control during later cotton growth stages.

Technical Abstract: The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the key pests and limiting factors to cotton production in conventional and organic systems. We assessed the use of resistant and susceptible cotton cultivars, a neem-based insecticide (Natuneem), and trapping with an A. grandis grandis aggregation pheromone as possible control tactics. In the first of two growing seasons we evaluated resistance of colored fiber cotton cultivars BRS 200, BRS Rubi, BRS Safira, and BRS Verde, and white fiber cotton BRS Aroeira, against A. grandis grandis attack. In the second growing season we assessed three colored cotton cultivars grown in and without close association of BRS Aroeira, and two control tactics: the neem-based pesticide and trapping. Because BRS Aroeira showed resistance against A. grandis grandis in the first growing season, it was selected to be planted in close association with more susceptible colored cultivars in the second growing season. Field plots with white and colored cotton cultivars reduced the need to control A. grandis grandis using the neem-based pesticide. Control by the neem-based pesticide and by trapping were of comparable value although the traps provided measurable control during early cotton growth stages and the neem-based pesticide provided measurable control during later cotton growth stages.