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Title: COTTON PLANT SUGARS AND INSECT HONEYDEW CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Author
item Brushwood, Donald
item PERKINS, JR, HENRY - COLLABORATOR

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Research using High Performance Liquid Chromatography has been refined to quickly analyze carbohydrates found in raw cottons. A complete analysis of the major sugars and other related components can be obtained in less than 30 minutes. This procedure is particularly important in identifying whitefly and aphid sugars, the differentiation between specific amounts, and types present. Whitefly and aphid (honeydew) contaminated cottons contain, in addition to naturally occurring sugars, unique complex sugars that identify insect contaminated cotton. By using this knowledge, protocols to minimize or eliminate the effect of the components responsible for stickiness in cotton can be developed. Surveys of recent beltwide crops indicate possible increases in the spread and influence of whitefly to new growing areas in the United States.

Technical Abstract: Identification of specific sugar and other components found on raw cotton related to stickiness has become increasingly important in recent years. This is mainly because of the spread of insect contamination into more cotton growing areas, including the Western United States. Cotton yields and quality are adversely affected and the sticky cottons cause problems in ginning and textile processing. Insect honeydew sugars are more complex than plant sugars and are generally randomly deposited on the lint in heavy specks. Insect honeydew is uniquely identified by the presence of the sucrose isomer trehalulose and the trisaccharide melezitose. Whitefly honeydew contains more trehalulose than melezitose; whereas aphid honeydew also contains trehalulose and melezitose, but in different proportions. Recent work using anion high performance liquid chromatography has made it possible to separate, characterize, and quantify these sugars in cotton. Identifying insect contaminants is important to develop test methods and to eliminate or minimize cotton stickiness. Identification of specific components of the sticky contaminants should also lead to development of spot tests for detecting stickiness and will facilitate research to destroy or neutralize the components responsible for the stickiness.