Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), or fall armyworm, is an important agricultural pest of several crops in the Western Hemisphere, including cotton (Gossypium L.). Two morphologically identical host strains of fall armyworm exist that differ in plant host use and habitat distribution. The corn-strain is a primary pest of corn, Zea mays L., whereas the rice-strain is th...

Transgenic cotton is very effective in controlling targeted pests such as cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). However, increases in spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) populations have been reported in fields of transgenic cotton. The objectives of our laboratory experiments were (i) to determine host plant preference (transgenic or non-transgenic cotton) of T. turkestani females and (ii) to...

The influence of plant interference and a mild drought on gas exchange and oxidative stress was investigated using potted plants of two cotton species (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Delta Pine 5415, and Gossypium barbadense L. cv. Pima S-7) and spurred anoda (Anoda cristata L. Schlecht.) of the Malvaceae. Without interference, cotton and spurred anoda had similar net photosynthesis (Pnet) but diffe...

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), is a sporadic but devastating secondary pest of cotton. Scouting cotton for egg masses is commonly recommended for identifying potential outbreaks and forproper timingof insecticide applications.However, there is disagreement regarding where to look on the plant for beet armyworm eggs. We investigated and quantiÞed placement of egg masses by labora...

Sampling methods for square and boll-feeding plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) occurring on cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., were compared with the intent to assess if one approach was viable for two species occurring from early-season squaring to late bloom in 25 fields located along the coastal cotton growing region of south Texas. Cotton fleaphopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter), damages s...

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan (FLA) protein is a cell-wall-associated protein playing crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development, and it was characterized in different plants including Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). In cDNA-AFLP analysis of 25 DPA (days post anthesis) fiber mRNA, two FLA gene-related transcripts exhibit differential expression between Sea Island cotton (G...

A numerical method called Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) has been used for rational selection of a cotton harvester out of a finite number of cotton harvesters available the world over. In India, efforts are being made to design and develop a commercial cotton harvester to harvest selected cotton varieties sown by adopting common agronomic practices locally for cotton cultivation. Th...

Lygus species of plant-feeding insects have emerged as economically important pests of cotton in the United States. These species are not controlled by commercial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton varieties resulting in economic losses and increased application of insecticide. Previously, a Bt crystal protein (Cry51Aa2) was reported with insecticidal activity against Lygus spp. However, transg...

Planting Bt cotton in China since 1997 has led to important changes in the natural enemy communities occurring in cotton, however their specific effect on suppressing the cotton aphids (being notorious in conventional cotton ecosystem) has not been fully documented yet. We observed strong evidence for top-down control of the aphid population, e.g. the control efficiency of natural enemies on co...

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) populations collected from five crop plants, viz brinjal, cotton, potato, tomato, soybean and a weed, Sida sp., and maintained on respective host plants were studied for virus acquisition from diseased cotton plant and its subsequent transmission to healthy cotton plants. The presence of virus in whitefly and diseased plants was established by PCR amplification of CLCu...