Modifying a Plant Mapping Program to Measure and Visualize Plant Bug Injury to Cotton

The entomological evaluation of plant bug injury in cotton has been both objective and subjective.  Two objective measurements include abscission (in percent) and yield (lost pounds of seed and lint).  A somewhat subjective measurement includes boll damage ratings, i.e. the 0-4 system of rating plant bug injury to each individual boll.  Agronomic plant mapping tools are effective in measuring/evaluating characteristics of the cotton plant under many conditions, including plant bug densities,  but can lack the ability to include desired plant bug injury information.  The need to combine the two disciplines, entomologic and agronomic, into a tool that can help better evaluate plant bug injury in cotton has existed for quite some time.  A recently modified plant mapping program (PMAP) is being used and evaluated at Texas A&M AgriLife Research- Corpus Christi to provide both entomologic and agronomic information relating to plant bug injury in cotton.  The current tool provides both objective and subjective information in a numerical and visual format.  This presentation introduces this tool and invites input from others in the cotton industry.