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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403769
Research Project: GxExM Systems Approach to Crop Disease Management

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Assessment of cotton leafroll dwarf virus incidence in three Alabama agricultural experiment stations

Author
item ESCALANTE, CESAR - Auburn University
item Balkcom, Kipling
item JACOBSON, ALANA - Auburn University
item CONNER, KASSIE - Auburn University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2023
Publication Date: 12/29/2023
Citation: Escalante, C., Balkcom, K.S., Jacobson, A., Conner, K. 2023. Assessment of cotton leafroll dwarf virus incidence in three Alabama agricultural experiment stations [ABSTRACT]. Phytopathology 113:S3.78. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-113-11-S3.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-113-11-S3.1

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The first official report of cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) in the U.S. was published from isolates collected in Alabama cotton fields in 2017. Since then, CLRDV has been reported across nearly the entire U.S. cotton belt. The objective of this study was to evaluate virus incidence and titers throughout different phenological stages of cotton during the 2022 growing season at three Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations. One variety with insecticide-treated and non-insecticide-treated seed was used in the experiments. Virus incidence and titers were determined by RT-qPCR. Aphis gossypii presence or absence, and virus-associated symptoms were monitored visually. Treated versus non-treated seed did not cause a major effect on virus incidence and titers. The number of symptomatic plants was lower than the number of positive plants tested by RT-qPCR. A relatively low number of plants showed symptoms throughout the entire season. However, CLRDV was detected as early as 45 days after planting (DAP) at incidence levels that ranged from 5% to 20%, while all locations showed high incidence (55-95%) at 135 DAP. The highest percentage of aphid-infested (85-100%) plants was observed during the early season, with a sudden decrease in the presence of aphids after 45 DAP. Titers decreased with time in most of the locations. Results from this investigation suggest that CLRDV is widely prevalent in cotton fields; therefore, its effects on plant physiology, cotton yield, and quality should be monitored to develop appropriate management programs.