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

The southern root-knot nematode, Meoidogyne 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 9180B2F each coupled with AERIS, Temik 15G at 5 lbs, Temik 15G at 7.5lbs, or Temik 15G at 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 provided further information on the presence and impact of root-knot nematodes.  The field trial was conducted in Gaines County, TX in 2010 in a field with a 6 year crop history of cotton, peanuts, cotton, cotton, cotton, cotton.   The field’s soil make up was 93% sand, 3% silt, and 4% clay.