Max A. Batla1, Jason E. Woodward1, and Terry A. Wheeler2. (1) Texas Cooperative Extension, 1102 E. FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403, (2) Texas A&M University, 1102 E. FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403
Fusarium wilt, caused by the soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, is an increasingly important disease throughout production regions across the Southern High Plains. Disease severity is typically worse in fields infested with the rot-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Significant losses can be experienced under heavy disease pressure. Management options for control of Fusarium wilt are limited. Current management options consist of adequate nematode control; however, preliminary studies have indicated that there are significant differences in Fusarium wilt susceptibility among commercially available varieties. The focus of these trials was to evaluate the performance of cotton varieties in fields with a history of Fusarium wilt. Disease control, cotton yield, fiber quality, and economic returns will be used to determine treatment efficacy.