Evaluation of Variety Tolerance and Chemical Management of Southern Root-Knot Nematodes

The southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, is an economically important parasite of cotton in Gaines County, Texas.  Higher populations of this pest tend to occur in sandier fields that have had consecutive cotton crops and very little rotation to a nonhost, such as peanuts. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the performance of ST 5458B2F and FM 9063B2F each coupled with AERIS, AVICTA, Temik 15G at 3.5 lbs, Temik 15G at 5lbs, or Temik 15G at 3.5lbs plus an over-spray of Vydate C-LV at the third grown square and to compare the net returns between varieties, nematicides, and the interaction between varieties and nematicides.  Gall ratings, in-season juvenile and eggs counts/cm³ soil, and in-season plant height and node counts provided further information on the presence and impact of root-knot nematodes.  The field trial was conducted in Gaines County, TX in 2009 in a field with a 5 year crop history of cotton, peanuts, cotton, cotton, cotton.   The field’s soil make up was 93% sand, 3% silt, and 4% clay.  ST 5458B2F had significantly fewer galls per root and significantly fewer juvenile and egg counts/cm³ soil than FM 9063B2F.  Temik 15G at 3.5 lbs, Temik 15G at 5lbs, and Temik 15G at 3.5lbs plus an over-spray of Vydate had significantly fewer galls per root than AERIS, AVICTA, and the untreated check.  Yield data is still pending at this time.