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Title: DETECTION AND MONITORING OF BIOTIC-CAUSED STRESS IN KENAF AND COTTON USING REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY

Author
item Cook, Charles
item Escobar, David
item Everitt, James
item Cavazos Iii, Isabel
item Robinson, Arin
item Davis, Michael

Submitted to: Biannual Workshop in Color Photography and Videography in Resource
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Studies were conducted to determine the potential of using airborne video imagery to detect and monitor biotic-caused stress in kenaf and cotton in 1991 and 1996, respectively. Kenaf plots were located in an area infested with Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, a serious pathogen of cotton grown in Texas and Arizona. An underway study in which the objective was to determine the interaction of reniform nematodes and silverleaf whiteflies was used to evaluate the potential of video imagery for monitoring these two pests in cotton. Results of these studies demonstrated the potential of utilizing video imagery to detect and monitor damage to cotton caused by reniform nematodes and silverleaf whiteflies, as well as monitoring the early stages and continuing spread of Phymatotrichum root rot in kenaf. Results indicated that airborne video imagery should be very useful in monitoring a growing cotton or kenaf crop for plant stress. The potential to have a less time consuming method for identifying and monitoring crop stress and problem field areas should be very beneficial to producers in regard to crop management and selection of planting site decisions.

Technical Abstract: Cotton grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is often subjected to damage caused by reniform nematodes or silverleaf whiteflies. Kenaf, a tall growing, dense planted, nonwood fiber crop, is a close relative of cotton and can also be infected by cotton pathogens. Evaluations to determine the potential of using airborne video imagery to detect and monitor biotic caused stress in kenaf and cotton were conducted in 1991 and 1996, respectively. Kenaf was evaluated in an area infested with Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, a serious pathogen of cotton grown in Texas and Arizona. An underway study to determine the interaction of reniform nematodes and silverleaf whiteflies was used to evaluate the potential of video imagery for the detection and monitoring of these two pests in cotton. The results demonstrated the potential to detect and monitor damage to cotton caused by reniform nematode-caused stress very early in the season. The later occurring whitefly damage was detected by the late seaso imagery. In the kenaf studies, the early stages of Phymatotrichum root rot and continuing spread were easily detected with video imagery. Video imagery used to estimate disease incidence at three different dates indicated that the two later dates correlated closely with ground truth measurements. Lack of correlation at the first date may have resulted from the video imagery being able to detect the plant stress before visual plant wilting occurred. Results indicated that airborne video imagery should be useful in monitoring a growing cotton or kenaf crop for plant stress. The potential for a less time consuming method for identifying and monitoring crop stress and problem field areas should be beneficial to producers in regard to crop management and selection of planting site decisions.