Silent thief steals cotton patch profits
By Steven Byrns
Texas Agrilife
Lubbock, Texas (November 12,2008) -
Texas AgriLife Research cotton experts working in the “world’s
biggest cotton patch” have a silent thief under surveillance who
often makes off with a quarter of the southern High Plains cotton
crop annually – and like any successful theft, its done without most
of the victims even knowing it.
No, it’s not some widespread scam or even
drought or hail. It’s the root-knot nematode, a tiny worm-like
creature that causes plants to form large galls on their roots.
Dr. Terry Wheeler, AgriLife Research plant
pathologist at Lubbock, said the galls are metabolic workhorses that
channel the nutrients needed for cotton production from the plant to
the nematodes.
“About
40 percent of our region’s irrigated acres, mainly in the sandier
areas, are infested with root-knot nematode,” Wheeler said. “If
nothing is done to control the pest, then on average 26 percent of
the yield on these acres are lost.”
Wheeler said because growers often attribute a
poor stand of cotton to dry weather or other environmental
conditions, nothing is done simply because growers don’t know
nematodes are the problem.
Dr. Jane Dever, AgriLife Research cotton breeder
at Lubbock, said nematode-resistant cotton varieties that are
traditionally available can mean fewer nematode numbers in the soil
but often don’t yield more cotton.
But help is on the way.
Dever said AgriLife Research cotton breeding
programs in Lubbock and College Station are working together to
develop higher yielding cottons that are resistant to root-knot
nematode.
“Here at Lubbock, we’ve been making crosses with
more primitive root-knot nematode- resistant strains of cotton since
1995,” she said. “An excellent combination from these crosses that’s
been tested in variety trials for several years has resulted in good
nematode resistance and a higher yield, but unfortunately, the fiber
quality has been poor. So now we’ve added fiber quality to the mix.
“Combining Dr. Wheeler’s nematode tough genetics
with our pedigreed breeding program is helping us develop lines that
can readily be used by commercial seed developers,” Dever said.
“These should perform well not only under nematode pressure, but
also across our whole growing region.”
Dever said the Lubbock research program works
with cotton seed companies to assist them in developing
nematode-resistant and tolerant varieties.
She said the College Station team includes Dr.
Jim Starr, professor of plant pathology and microbiology, and Dr.
Wayne Smith, cotton breeder with the department of soil and crop
sciences. Their program concentrates on finding and developing new
sources of nematode-resistant cotton strains found mainly in
Mexico’s Yucatan region.
“Between the exciting work with new sources of
nematode resistance coming out of College Station and our ability to
test and select superior cotton strains here at Lubbock, southern
High Plains cotton growers should soon be enjoying greatly improved
cotton yields; free from an insidious pest that has robbed them of
profits for years,” Wheeler said.
