Variety selection for Cotton

Available varieties have different levels of susceptibility to certain insect pests. Consider insect resistance/tolerance when selecting seed varieties. Some key traits and their general effect on certain insects are as follows:

Early Maturity — Early maturing, short-season varieties are more likely to escape attack/damage from late-season infestations of budworms/bollworms, tarnished plant bugs, etc.

Smooth leaf — Aphid and whitefly populations tend to be reduced on smooth leaf varieties. Budworms/bollworms tend to deposit fewer eggs than on hairy varieties. The smooth leaf trait may somewhat favor plant bugs.

Okra leaf — Varieties with okra leaf trait allow improved canopy penetration of foliar insecticide treatments. This trait also has been associated with resistance to whiteflies.

Nectariless — Plant bug populations tend to be lower on nectariless varieties. Also, the nectariless trait tends to reduce egg production capacity of most moth species because of reduced nectar availability. Populations of beneficial insects that help suppress bollworms/ budworms are also generally lower in nectariless cotton.

High Glanding — Varieties with the high glanding trait have additional gossypol glands, increasing resistance to budworms/bollworms.

Bt-transgenic Varieties — Dual gene transgenic (Bollgard II and Widestrike) provide better suppression of bollworms and other caterpillar pests than Bollgard cotton did.