The bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is a key pest of cotton in Texas. Bollworm populations are widely controlled with pyrethroid insecticides in cotton and exposed to pyrethroids in other major crops such as grain sorghum, corn, and soybeans. A statewide program that evaluated cypermethrin resistance in male bollworm populations using an adult vial test was conducted from 2003 to 2006 in the major cotton production regions of Texas. Estimated parameters from the most susceptible field population currently available (Burleson County, September 2005) were used to calculate resistance ratios and their statistical significance. Populations from several counties had statistically significant (P < or = 0.05) resistance ratios for the LC(50), indicating that bollworm-resistant populations are widespread in Texas. The highest resistance ratios for the LC(50) were observed for populations in Burleson County in 2000 and 2003, Nueces County in 2004, and Williamson and Uvalde Counties in 2005. These findings explain the observed pyrethroid control failures in various counties in Texas. Based on the assumption that resistance is caused by a single gene, the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium formula was used for estimation of frequencies for the putative resistant allele (q) using 3 and 10 microg/vial as discriminatory dosages for susceptible and heterozygote resistant insects, respectively. The influence of migration on local levels of resistance was estimated by analysis of wind trajectories, which partially clarifies the rapid evolution of resistance to cypermethrin in bollworm populations. This approach could be used in evaluating resistance evolution in other migratory pests.

The purpose of this study was to assess the susceptibility of the bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), to the pyrethroid cypermethrin in the primary crop production areas of Texas. Pyrethroid insecticides are widely used in cotton and in other production systems, such as grain sorghum and corn. The statewide monitoring program that evaluated resistance in male H. zea was conducted from April to September 2005, surveying nine Texas counties with a total of 5,041 moths from all areas used for analysis. Data from all areas were sent to Texas A&M University Toxicology Laboratory for analysis. Considerable variability in response to cypermethrin was detected in H. zea across the state. Based on LC50 data, the most resistant populations were from Nueces, Uvalde, and Williamson counties while the most susceptible populations were from Ellis, Fisher and Mitchell, Hockley, and Swisher counties. Accepted for publication 2 October 2006. Published 19 July 2007.

Weed control is a limiting factor for adoption of conservation tillage systems on the Texas Southern High Plains. A field study was established to evaluate Palmer amaranth control with strip-tillage dinitroaniline herbicide incorporation in wheat residue. Preemergence herbicides were applied alone and in combination with strip-tilled incorporated herbicides. Significant cotton injury or stand reductions were not observed with any treatment. Effective (>80%) early season Palmer amaranth control was achieved with trifluralin or pendimethalin in conjunction with preemergence herbicides. Preemergence herbicides alone did not provide adequate control.

Small plot cotton cultivar trials (12 trials) were conducted from 2016 to 2019 in fields infested with Meloidogyne incognita. Entries in these trials included commercial cultivars with partial and high resistance to M. incognita, as well as cultivars with no known resistance. Different resistant groups were created based on different cotton seed companies and their descriptions of the M. incognita resistant cultivars. Groups were none (susceptible); partial resistance found in Stoneville or Fibermax cultivars (PR-FM/ST); partial resistance found in PhytoGen cultivars (PR-PHY); resistance (unknown gene(s)) in Deltapine cultivars (NR-DP); and highly resistant cultivars homozygous for RK1 and RK2 resistant genes in PhytoGen cultivars (HR-PHY). The highest lint yields using a mixed model analysis were found in the PR-FM/ST (1,396 kg lint/ha), HR-PHY (1,327 kg lint/ha), and PR-PHY (1,314 kg lint/ha) groups. Yield for NR-DP (1,234 kg lint/ ha) was not different (p > 0.05) than yield for susceptible cultivars (1,243 kg lint/ha). If the older resistant cultivars from Deltapine and PhytoGen (those with only Roundup Ready® herbicide technology) were removed from the analysis, then HR-PHY yields increased by 133 kg of lint/ha to 1,460 kg lint/ha and NR-DP yields remained approximately unchanged (1,227 kg lint/ha). Newer HR-PHY had much improved yield over the first HR-PHY cultivars. Newer HR-PHY averaged 17% higher yield than the susceptible group. LOG 10 (M. incognita eggs/500 cm 3 soil + 1) were highest for the susceptible cultivars (3.2), followed by PR-FM/ST (2.6), NR-DP (2.4), PR-PHY (2.1), and lowest with HR-PHY (1.4). The newer HR-PHY cultivars (those with ENLIST ® herbicide technology) combine excellent yields (17% higher than susceptible cultivars) with high (96%) suppression of M. incognita.

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