While reading Main pests and diseases of cotton in sub-Saharan Africa, you really begin to feel sorry for the cotton plant and increasingly appreciate your cotton wear. Bear in mind that this booklet only deals with the main pests; it leaves weeds aside, for instance. It is a concise and clear manual enabling cotton growers to recognise what might be attacking their crop. This can vary from the entire range of flying, creeping and sucking insects to leaf and vascular diseases and mineral deficiencies. Three hope-giving pages provide information on beneficials predators and parasitoids in controlling insect pest populations. With an average of two beautiful colour photographs per page, it is a very attractive booklet on a perhaps less attractive subject. Main pests and diseases of cotton in sub-Saharan Africa By M Vaissayre & J Cauquil, CIRAD-CTA, 2000. 60 pp. ISBN 2 87614 416 6 CTA number 1012. 10 Credit points | Main pests and diseases of cotton in sub-Saharan Africa

Vitamin E, tocopherol, is a naturally occurring antioxidant that has been implicated in human health issues such as decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer, improved immune functions, and in slowing the progress of degenerative diseases. Tocopherol affects plant health much as it does human health, i.e., by scavenging free radicals, thus protecting plant membrane integrity. Tocopherol is a strong antioxidant and increases oil oxidative stability in cottonseed oil. Little is known about the tocopherol content of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seed. ‘Acala 1517-88’ and ‘Acala 1517-SR2’ are reportedly higher in α-tocopherol than ‘Deltapine 50’ or ‘Stoneville 825.’ Objectives of this research were to determine the variability in vitamin E content among several current upland cotton genotypes grown during 1997 and 1998 at College Station, TX, and when grown at College Station and Chillicothe, TX, in 1997. Tocopherol was extracted from cotton seeds with hexane and levels were determined by HPLC. Years were significant for α- and δ-tocopherol and location was significant for β/γ-tocopherol. However, no differences were detected among 18 genotypes grown during 1997 and 1998 at College Station nor among 13 genotypes grown at College Station and Chillicothe during 1997.

Vitamin E, tocopherol, is a naturally occurring antioxidant that has been implicated in human health issues such as decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer, improved immune functions, and in slowing the progress of degenerative diseases. Tocopherol affects plant health much as it does human health, i.e., by scavenging free radicals, thus protecting plant membrane integrity. Tocopherol is a strong antioxidant and increases oil oxidative stability in cottonseed oil. Little is known about the tocopherol content of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seed. 'Acala 1517-88' and 'Acala 1517-SR2' are reportedly higher in alpha-tocopherol than 'Deltapine 50' or 'Stoneville 825.' Objectives of this research were to determine the variability in vitamin E content among several current upland cotton genotypes grown during 1997 and 1998 at College Station, TX, and when grown at College Station and Chillicothe, TX, in 1997. Tocopherol was extracted from cotton seeds with hexane and levels were determined by HPLC. Years were significant for alpha- and delta-tocopherol and location was significant for beta/gamma-tocopherol. However, no differences were detected among 18 genotypes grown during 1997 and 1998 at College Station nor among 13 genotypes grown at College Station and Chillicothe during 1997.

The ginning of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) results in the accumulation of approximately 90 kg of gin trash per bale of cotton ginned. In the past, disposal of raw gin trash was by burning, land application and feeding to livestock, but problems with clean air standards, weed seeds and diseases, and chemical residues, respectively, make each of these methods unacceptable. Composting the gin trash would alleviate certain problems associated with land application on farm fields. Experiments were conducted to investigate windrow composting. A split plot experiment with five reps was initiated to evaluate turning times, nitrogen (N) fertilization and bacterial inoculation. Composite samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients and selected chemicals. Another experiment was established to compare timing and physical methods of turning windrows. The Lipsey-gin-trash-composting system was investigated by sampling three compost piles at three different cotton gins. The chemical composition and weed seed germination were investigated. Results indicate that windrow composting does not solve the weed seed or plant disease problem; otherwise, the product was satisfactory. The Lipsey-gin-trash-composting system resulted in a pile of material whose outside 0 to 15 cm depths contained viable weed seeds and disease organisms, but none survived below this exterior. This system resulted in an incomplete composting material with offensive odors.

Four bacterial diseases, furunculosis,streptococcicosis, cold-water disease and bacterial hemorrhagic ascites mainly caused mass mortalities among pond-cultured freshwater fish. The antibacterial activity of ionized silver water (Ag water)to these bacterial pathogens was investigated by using silver plating fiber cotton (X-static, Sauquoit). Ag water were prepared as follows; 1. 5 g of silver cotton were immersed in 1l of sterile PBS (-) for 5 days. 0.22 micro m filtered PBS (-) were contained 0.94 mg/l of ionized silver. 2. 7 g of cotton were immersed in 500 rnlof PBS (-) for 7 days. 0.45 micro m filtered PBS (-) were contained 0.41 mg/l of ionized silver. Cultured four bacteria, Aeromonas salmonicida (As), Streptococcus iniae (Si), Flavobacterium psyclirophilum (Fp) and Pseudomonasplecoglossicida (Pp) were suspended with sterile PBS (-). 0.1 ml of suspended PBS was added into 10 ml of Ag water and cultured at 18 deg C. Viable cell counts were made at 4 and 24 hours after exposure. As (in Ag water 1), Si (in Ag water 1) and Fp (in Ag water 2) were counted < 10**2 CFU/ml at 4 hours. Pp (in Ag water 2) was < 10**1 CFU/ml at 24 hours. These results indicated ionized silver possessed the antibacterial activity to four bacterial pathogens.

Radical changes in crop production have occurred in the southeastern USA in recent years. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) are now planted in direct rotation, and conservation tillage is commonly used for both crops. Comprehensive data is lacking on crop and pest management recommendations in those systems, so a long-term study was conducted in Tifton, GA on the effects of tillage systems on crop and pest management in a peanut–cotton rotation. Systems evaluated were conventional, reduced, and minimum tillage. Plots in conventional tillage systems were harrowed, deep-turned, and planted each year. In reduced tillage systems, plots were harrowed in the fall and planted to rye (Secale cereale L.), and crops were planted into killed rye. In minimum tillage systems, plots were neither tilled nor planted to rye and remained nontilled during the winter, and crops were planted directly into the previous crop stubble. Weed control was based on species present and tillage system. Peanut was either treated with flutolanil [3′-isopropoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl) benzanilide] for soil-borne disease control or not treated (control). Yields were sustained for 5 yr with no difference in peanut or cotton yields among tillage systems. Flutolanil controlled soil-borne diseases and increased peanut yields, working equally well in all three tillage systems. Weed densities and species composition changed, causing more intensive and costly weed control in reduced and minimum tillage systems than in conventional tillage systems. Spotted wilt (tomato spotted wilt tospovirus) incidence was 42% lower in reduced and minimum tillage systems than in conventional tillage systems and is now part of the recommended strategy to manage the disease.

Neste trabalho é relatado o esquema utilizado para obtenção da cultivar IAC 21 realizado durante o período de 1981/82 a 1993/94. A cultivar foi originada por resseleção da IAC 19, direcionada principalmente para resistência a Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporioides e nematóides, através do melhoramento genealógico. No início dos estudos as seleções e respectivas progênies foram comparadas à cultivar original IAC 19 e, posteriormente, a 'IAC 20'. Além das características econômicas de produção e qualidade da fibra, a linhagem foi avaliada para resistência múltipla às doenças: murchas de Fusarium e Verticillium, mancha-angular, ramulose e nematóides. A cultivar IAC 21 foi superior a 'IAC 19' em 6,2%, em produtividade, na média geral dos experimentos, chegando a 18,1% em solos altamente infectados por patógenos; 4,6% em produção de sementes, 2,4% em tenacidade da fibra e 6,9% em tenacidade do fio, sem perdas significativas em outras características, com exceção da porcentagem de fibra que decresceu 2,6%. Com respeito às doenças, apresentou melhores índices para murcha de Fusarium e ramulose mantendo-se, entretanto, no mesmo nível para as demais. Estudos preliminares mostraram que 'IAC 21' apresentou índices inferiores a 'CNPA ITA 90' para a anomalia "murchamento avermelhado". Devido às vantagens verificadas em relação a 'IAC 19' e 'IAC 20', 'IAC 21' foi recomendada para plantio em todas as áreas do Estado de São Paulo, excluindo-se as de ocorrência do "murchamento avermelhado". | It is described the program to obtain cotton cultivar IAC 21 developed over the period of 1981/82 to 1993/94. The cultivar IAC 21 was originated from selections in 'IAC 19' population using the pedigree procedure taking into account some agronomical characteristics, and complemented with two specific breeding cycles for resistance to Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporioides and to nematodes. Initially, comparisons of results were made to 'IAC 19', later to 'IAC 20'. Economical characteristics of production, fiber quality and multiple resistance to diseases (Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, bacterial blight, ramulosis and nematodes) were evaluated. When compared to 'IAC 19', the cultivar IAC 21 showed the following overall gains: 6.2% in yield, being of 18.1% on highly infected soil; 4.6% in seed yield; 2.4% in fiber tenacity and 6.9% in yarn tenacity, with no losses in other characters except to fiber that was lowered by 2.6% (about 1% in absolute value). There was an improvement in Fusarium wilt and ramulosis resistance, and no changes as to resistance to other diseases. A preliminary study revealed that the new anomaly called, in Brazil, "murchamento avermelhado" (reddish wilt or bronze wilt) affected 'IAC 21' more than the resistant cultivar CNPA ITA 90. By its advantages over 'IAC 19' and 'IAC 20', the cultivar IAC 21 was released in 1993, recommended for all the cotton areas of the State of São Paulo, except those where "murchamento avermelhado" occurred.

Cotton and snap bean were selected for a multi-year, multi-state regional (south-eastern USA) research project to evaluate the efficacy of both commercial and experimental bacterial and fungal biological control agents for the management of damping-off diseases. The goal for this portion of the project was to determine the viability and stability of biological agents after application to seed. The biological seed treatments used included: (1) Bacillaceae bacteria, (2) non-Bacillaceae bacteria, (3) the fungus Trichoderma and (4) the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Seed assays were conducted to evaluate the following application factors: short-term (< or = 3 months) stability after seed treatment; quality (ie isolate purity); compatibility with chemical pesticides and other biocontrol agents; application uniformity between years and plant species. For the bacterial treatments, the Bacillaceae genera (Bacillus and Paenibacillus) maintained the greatest population of bacteria per seed, the best viability over time and the best application uniformity across years and seed type. The non-Bacillaceae genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas had the least viability and uniformity. Although Beauveria bassiana was only evaluated one year, the seed fungal populations were high and uniform. The seed fungal populations and uniformity for the Trichoderma isolates were more variable, except for the commercial product T-22. However, this product was contaminated with a Streptomyces isolate in both the years that it was evaluated. The study demonstrated that Bacillaceae can be mixed with Trichoderma isolates or with numerous pesticides to provide an integrated pest control/growth enhancement package.