Inoculation of the bacterial cells of microbial seed coating agents (SCAs) into the environment may result in limited survival and colonization. Therefore, the application efficacy of an encapsulated microbial seed coating agent (ESCA) was investigated on potted cotton plants; the agent was prepared with polyvinyl alcohol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, bentonite, and microencapsulated Bacillus subtil...

The efficacy of trunk treatment with three materials, cotton seed oil, lime and used motor oil, were evaluated for the control of apple clearwing, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in an apple orchard during two successive years (2004 and 2005). The weekly total number of adult catches and exuviae was recorded each year. No treatments caused significant reductions in...

Poor air quality in some areas of the US has caused regulators to increase regulatory pressure on sources of air pollution. Historically, cotton producers have not been targeted by regulators to reduce emissions through mandatory implementation of particulate matter (PM) control strategies. However, the use of inaccurate PM emission factors for field operations (including cotton harvesting) has...

A new cotton variant with reduced levels of terpenoid aldehydes (sesquiterpenoids and sesterterpenoids (heliocides)) was isolated from the progeny of hemizygous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cv. Coker 312) transformed with antisense (+)-delta-cadinene synthase cDNA. Southern analysis of leaf DNA digested with HindIII, Pst or KpnI restriction endonucleases did not detect any antisense cdn1-C1 DNA i...

The most commonly used method for biodiesel preparation is via transesterification of vegetable oil using alkaline catalysts. Biodiesel yield and oil conversion are affected by operating conditions including the catalyst formulation and concentration. Application of alkaline catalysts can also lead to undesired soap formation. This study evaluated the alkaline catalyst effects on biodiesel yiel...

Field experiment was conducted for 2 seasons to study the influence of drip fertigation in combination with or without bio fertilizers on yield, plant uptake and soil fertility of Bt cotton. The treatments comprised of four levels of drip fertigation viz., 75, 100, 125 and 150 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF, NPK) combined with and without bio fertilizers, drip irrigation w...

Widely grown transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can benefit agriculture, but adaptation by pests threatens their continued success. Refuges of host plants that do not make Bt toxins can promote survival of susceptible insects and delay evolution of resistance, particularly if resistance is inherited as a recessive trait. However, data have been lac...

Historically, the primary objective of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) breeding programs was to improve the quantity and quality of cotton fiber. Because of the added value of cottonseed and its many uses, including a feed and human food source, there is interest in developing cotton breeding programs that focus improvement efforts simultaneously on cotton fiber and seed. Genetic analysis of cot...