Aaron Alexander1, T. A. Wheeler2, Jason E. Woodward3, R.K. Boman3, Craig W. Bednarz4, Emmett Elam1, T. C Wedegaertner5, and N. W. Hopper4. (1) Texas Tech University, 15th & Detroit, Plant and Soil Science BLDG, Lubbock, TX 79409, (2) Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Rt. 3, Box 219, Lubbock, TX 79403, (3) Texas Cooperative Extension, 1102 E. FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403, (4) Texas Tech University and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Box 42122, Lubbock, TX 79409-2122, (5) Cotton Incorporated, 6399 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513
This study compares if Easiflo treated cottonseed will have a higher rate of bacterial blight infection than acid delinted cottonseed.
Easiflo treated cottonseed is treated with a polymer coating after being ginned and mechanically delinted. Since the Easiflo process does not involve any exposure of the cottonseed to acid, seed borne diseases such as bacterial blight will more likely survive on the seed coat and be a problem during the next growing season when the seed is used as planting seed.
The study is being conducted over 2 years, 2006 and 2007, and involves growing out varieties in the field, infecting them with bacterial blight, selecting infected bolls to get infected seed, and then harvesting that seed and exposing the seed to the 2 different treatments, Easiflo and acid delinting. The seed will then be assayed and planted in a humidity chamber to quantify bacterial infection rates of each seed treatment.
