Tag Archives: Cotton
Wireworms: a threat to stand establishment in the High Plains cotton
Suhas Vyavhare, Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist As we approach the planting season, one of the first groups of insects that we need to start thinking about are wireworms. Wireworm issues are on the rise with increased adoption of conservation tillage practices and potentially the reduced use of aldicarb, a broad-spectrum insecticide over the last decade or so. Although cotton is not a preferred host for wireworms, they still can inflict serious damage to cotton seedlings especially in fields following grain crops. What are wireworms? There are two… Read More →
Cotton foliar symptoms in western Texas driven by weather, not disease
Reagan Noland, Assistant Professor and Extension Agronomist Tom Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist Cotton across much of western Texas has recently displayed varying levels of premature defoliation and foliar discoloration following a drastic shift from hot and dry to abnormally cold and wet conditions in early September. The stark visual symptoms raised many questions and concerns regarding potential impacts to yield and quality, whether the situation could have been prevented, and whether intervention would have yielded any benefit. Producers and industry professionals have suspected foliar disease… Read More →
Cotton Blue Disease, A Virus Disease Not in Texas, So Far
A new virus disease of cotton found so far in several southeastern US states has attracted a lot of attention lately. This is the “cotton blue disease”, which is caused by the cotton leaf roll dwarf virus. Symptoms are seen in the new growth following virus infection and include stunting, blistering or crinkling of leaves (Figure 1), and downward cupping of leaves (Figure 2). Other symptoms can include reddening, shortened internodes, upward cupping of leaves and abnormal top growth. Plants may also exhibit a green-blue leaf… Read More →