Tiger Striping Symptoms Caused By Rotylenchulus Reniformis in Upland Cotton

Rotylenchulus reniformis is a common cotton pest found throughout the southeast and the subtropical regions of the world. Approximately a quarter of a million bales were lost in the United States from Reniform damage between the years of 2000-2013. Tiger striping or interveinal chlorosis is a common symptom of the reniform nematode on cotton specific to the state of Alabama. Cotton leaves were collected for nutrient analysis in Mississippi and Alabama. Leaves in fields with and without Reniform were gathered for testing in both states. Leaves were crushed and digested in nitric acid for 1 hour. Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma machine (ICP)  with simultaneous measurements of Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, and Zn. Concentrations were determined by comparisons to standard curve. Five and ten milligram samples were made for each replication of a composite treatment. Statistics were analyzed in JMP 11 by Means/Anova and means compared using Tukey-Kramer HSD (α =.1). Analysis showed that cotton leaves with Reniform nematode had statically lower amounts of Calcium, Boron and Iron than leaves without Reniform from Alabama and leaves from Mississippi. Symptoms in conjuncture with the nutrient analysis indicate that Iron deficiency is the most like cause of interveinal chlorosis.