The significant reduction of bollworm infestation by the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Bt Cotton as a component of IPM led to reduction in bollworm infestation and increase in yield. However, these alterations have brought in many new biotic problems hitherto unknown or of little economic importance. Field survey of rainfed Bt cotton fields in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu, India during 2008-2014 revealed that the incidence of various insect pests and plant diseases is on the rise in different Bt cotton hybrids. In 2008-2009, it was observed that the Bt cotton was damaged by cotton mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley), green mirid bug (Creontiades biseratance Distant) and root rot (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn) which caused severe yield losses. In addition to that, other pests like papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink) and Alternaria leaf spot caused more damage in Bt cotton during 2009-10. Besides these pests, the mirid bug (Campyloma livida Reuter), stripped mealybug (Ferrissia virgata Ckll), tobacco streak virus, grey mildew Ramularia areola and boll rot incidence in Bt cotton were noticed in 2010-12. Apart from this pest and disease problems, the Alterrnaria leaf blight, root rot (Macrophomina phaseolina Maubl) and Myrothecium leaf spot caused severe yield losses in Bt cotton during 2012-2014. The survey revealed that, the pests and disease problems are increasing year by year in Bt cotton which caused yield reduction and also increased the cost of cultivation. If left unchecked these pests and disease problems are capable of undoing all benefits gained due to Bt cotton in terms of increased yield and reduction in use of chemical pesticides.

The aims of this project will provide capacity in virology expertise to help protect Australian cotton from virus diseases including both existing and those that pose significant biosecurity threats. This project will also provide continued capacity in virology to support the cotton industry.

Innovations in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) pest management should be initially based on the perspective of cotton farmers, recognizing farmers' constraints and their existing technical knowledge as the basis for an effective collaboration. A survey of 318 randomly selected farmers from two districts of the cotton belt of Punjab in Pakistan was conducted to study common crop protection problems and related behaviors in cotton production in the area. Data were collected through group discussions with farmers and individual interviews. Relative frequencies of distribution for the tested variables, weighted average scores based on the weight assigned to each answer for the rating scales, and the Borich Needs Assessment Model for the training needs were used for relevant comparisons. Most farmers considered pest damage to be important in cotton production causing significant yield losses. Farmers had awareness of some major insect pests, but the majority of them used descriptive than specific names when defining a pest. Among well-known insects whiteflies, aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, and bollworms were mentioned, but farmers had great difficulty in distinguishing the different species. Identification of cotton diseases was practically non-existent, except from cotton leaf curl. Farmers were aware of a limited number of major weeds. Most of them stated purple nutsedge and bermudagrass as frequent weed problems in cotton production in the area. In general, weeds were perceived as a constant and unresolved problem in cotton production, but with less impact on yield than insects. The majority of the farmers relied on the chemical method for pest control, but knowledge on pesticide safety issues was below average. High needs for training were found on a) the proper period for pesticide application, b) the identification of natural enemies for cotton pests, and c) the discrimination of symptoms of various diseases. Understanding farmers' views of pests and their impact can be a first major step for more efficient pest management in cotton production.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most significant cash crop and backbone of global textile industry. The importance of cotton can hardly be over emphasized in the economy of cotton-growing countries as cotton and cotton products contribute significantly to the foreign exchange earnings. Cotton breeders have continuously sought to improve cotton’s quality through conventional breeding in the past centuries; however, due to limited availability of germplasm with resistant to particular insects, pests and diseases, further advancements in cotton breeding have been challenging. The progress in transformation systems in cotton paved the way for the genetic improvement by enabling the researchers to transfer specific genes among the species and to incorporate them in cotton genome. With the development of first genetically engineered cotton plant in 1987, several characteristics such as biotic (insects, viruses, bacteria and fungi) resistance, abiotic (drought, chilling, heat, salt), herbicide tolerance, manipulation of oil and fiber traits have been reported to date. Genetic engineering has emerged as a necessary tool in cotton breeding programs, strengthening classical strategies to improve yield and yield contributing factors. The current review highlights the advances and endeavors in cotton genetic engineering achieved by researchers worldwide utilizing modern biotechnological approaches. Future prospects of the transgenic cotton are also discussed.

The present study was conducted in Dharwad, Davanagere, Haveri, Gadag and Mysore districts during the year 2011. These districts are selected for study based on highest area under Bt cotton cultivtion and these districts incidently represents all the agro climatic zones of the state. The total sample size of the study was 5000 farmers spread over in all the five selected districts. Findings of the study indicated that, majority of the Bt cotton growers (96.27%) adopted the seed dibbling method of sowing and 91.00 per cent of farmers followed the recommended plant population. The study also revealed that, majority of the farmers perceived that the Bt cotton technology had a very positive impact on profit from the Bt cotton production (91.00%) and on the economic position of farmers (87.00%). High cost of labour and non availibilty (82.34%) and new pest and diseases (52.11%) were the major problems encountered in Bt cotton cultivation.

Cotton productivity is severely hampering by various diseases and insect pests especially cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV) worldwide. Losses caused by CLCV are far more than any other factor affecting cotton productivity. Growing of early and resistant genotypes is of vital significance in alleviating the adversities of these pests in crop plants. The current field trial was conducted at Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan, Pakistan, to investigate the role of varying sowing dates in managing the CLCV infestation on different elite cotton genotypes. The crop was sown on five different dates i.e. D1= 15ᵗʰ April, D₂ = 1ˢᵗ May, D₃ = 15ᵗʰ May, D₄ = 1ˢᵗ June and D₅ = 15ᵗʰ June and three different elite cotton genotypes, i.e. V1= CIM-612, V₂ = CIM-591 and V₃ = CIM-573 to optimize a suitable sowing date and to screen out high productive and tolerant genotype against the CLCV. Seeds were drilled manually on finely crafted seedbed by using single row hand drill keeping seeding density of 20 kg ha-¹ and inter row spacing of 75cm. CLCV severely hampered the crop performance by delayed planting of cotton from 15ᵗʰ April, while increased the chances of disease incidence. It is concluded that early sowing of all tested genotypes especially CIM-592 reduces the problem of CLCV and enhanced cotton productivity.

The cause for the RLS disorder has been both biotic and abiotic factors. The reddening in leaves is attributed to magnesium deficiency, lower leaf N content, sudden fall in night temperature, low soil N supply, high temperature during the day coupled with low temperature at night, water stress and waterlogging. However, the biochemical studies proved that reddening of cotton leaves was related to an increased formation of anthocyanin pigments mainly cyanidin glycosides. Foliar application of urea @2%, DAP @2 % and MgSO4@1% at boll development period is helpful for managing leaf reddening symptoms in cotton. Further research is needed to provide a better understanding of factors that influence cotton diseases and to develop management strategies that reduce economic losses.

Soilborne diseases such as Fusarium wilt, Black root rot and Verticillium wilt have significant impact on cotton production. Fungi are an important component of soil biota with capacity to affect pathogen inoculum levels and their disease causing potential. Very little is known about the soil fungal community structure and management effects in Australian cotton soils. We analysed surface soils from ongoing field experiments monitoring cotton performance and disease incidence in three cotton growing regions, collected prior to 2013 planting, for the genetic diversity and abundance as influenced by soil type, environment and management practices and link it with disease incidence and suppression. Results from the 28S LSU rRNA sequencing based analysis indicated a total of 370 fungal genera in all the cotton soils and the top 25 genera in abundance accounted for the major portion of total fungal community. There were significant differences in the composition and genetic diversity of soil fungi between the different field sites from the three cotton growing regions. Results for diversity indices showed significantly greater diversity in the long-term crop rotation experiment at Narrabri (F6E) and experiments at Cowan and Goondiwindi compared to the Biofumigation and D1 field experiments at ACRI, Narrabri. Diversity was lowest in the soils under brassica crop rotation in Biofumigation experiment. Overall, the diversity and abundance of soil fungal community varied significantly in the three cotton growing regions indicating soil type and environmental effects. These results suggest that changes in soil fungal community may play a notable role in soilborne disease incidence in cotton.

To implement management strategies of Phytophthora pod rot (black pod) diseases successfully, knowledge of the role of economic plants, and the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora species on these plants in the cacao ecosystem is essential. In this study, the spread of Phytophthora megakarya in the cocoa growing districts of Ghana was monitored through annual surveys from 1985 to 2012. In addition, from July to October, 2008, Phytophthora was isolated from randomly collected non-symptomatic rootlets of economic plants on cacao farms and from symptomatic pods and stems of cacao from 139 locations in 22 districts in the cacao growing regions. A total of 1459 Phytophthora isolates from 22 plant species belonging to 19 families were characterized. The Phytophthora isolates showed six different morphological patterns on Campbell Vegetable Juice Agar medium. The patterns were variable stellate striate, cotton wool-like, deep cotton wool-like only at colony margin, light cotton wool-like pattern only at colony margin, and dense aerial, fluffy colonies without pattern. However, microscopic examination of the sporangia of the isolates revealed only two species, Phytophthora palmivora and P. megakarya. P. megakarya was found to have spread from Akomadan and Bechem in 1985 to 50 more administrative districts in 2012. This study also represents the first report of isolation of P. megakarya from Xanthosoma saggitifolium, Musa paradisiaca, Elaeis guinnensis, Persea americana, Carica papaya, Mangifera indica, Colocasia esculenta, Athyrium nipponicum and Ananas comosus on cacao farms in Ghana. The fact that economic plants on cacao farms harbour Phytophthora species may explain the failure to obtain appreciable control of Phytophthora diseases as the current management of these diseases is mainly targeted at the host crop, Theobroma cacao.

The cotton industry in Australia funds biannual disease surveys conducted by plant pathologists. The objective of these surveys is to monitor the distribution and importance of key endemic pests and record the presence or absence of new or exotic diseases. Surveys have been conducted in Queensland since 2002/03, with surveillance undertaken by experienced plant pathologists. Monitoring of endemic diseases indicates the impact of farming practices on disease incidence and severity. The information collected gives direction to cotton disease research. Routine diagnostics has provided early detection of new disease problems which include 1) the identification of Nematospora coryli, a pathogenic yeast associated with seed and internal boll rot; and 2) Rotylenchulus reniformis, a plant-parasitic nematode. This finding established the need for an intensive survey of the Theodore district revealing that reniform was prevalent across the district at populations causing up to 30% yield loss. Surveys have identified an exotic defoliating strain (VCG 1A) and non-defoliating strains of Verticillium dahliae, which cause Verticillium wilt. An intensive study of the diversity of V. dahliae and the impact these strains have on cotton are underway. Results demonstrate the necessity of general multi-pest surveillance systems in broad acre agriculture in providing (1) an ongoing evaluation of current integrated disease management practices and (2) early detection for a suite of exotic pests and previously unknown pests.