Varietal Response Of Cotton To Thrips Injury

The response of three cotton varieties to different thrips treatment regimes was evaluated in separate years and at two locations during the second year of the study.  Replicated small plot tests were performed in Tennessee and Virginia.  Treatments included untreated seed and Gaucho treated seed (year 1); Temik was subsequently included at two test locations (Tennessee and Virginia) during the second year of the study.  All seed were treated with fungicide.  The intent was to establish different levels of thrips injury to evaluate how each variety responded in terms of plant growth, maturity and yield.  Data on thrips numbers and injury, plant development, maturity, and yield were recorded.  Significant maturity delays and yield losses were associate with thrips injury.  In at least one year of the study, the yield response of different varieties varied among treatments, indicating that not all varieties tolerated thrips injury to the same level.