Efficacy of PHY367WRF In Root-Knot Nematode Infested Fields

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) are a serious pest of cotton with yield losses ranging from 10% to 25%. Phytogen Seed Company has developed an early maturing cotton variety, ‘PHY367WRF’, that greenhouse studies indicated as moderately resistant to root-knot nematodes (RKN). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PHY367WRF as compared to Telone fumigation, Temik in-furrow and Avicta seed treatment nematicide treatments in RKN-infested fields. PHY367WRF had less severe galling and fewer RKN in the soil than did the susceptible check, ‘PHY375WRF’. Both Telone and Temik reduced the galling of both varieties, but the galling of PHY367WRF without any treatment was as low as PHY375WRF with Telone. Averaged over the three locations and all treatments, PHY367WRF had 72% fewer RKN in the soil at the end of the season. This study indicated that the moderate RKN resistance in PHY367WRF was equivalent to Telone and Temik treatments in reducing galling and it surpassed Telone in reducing RKN levels in the soil. There was only negligible benefit to treating PHY367WRF with any nematicide treatment.