Yield Loss of Cotton Cultivars Due to the Reniform Nematode and the Added Benefit of Velum Total

In 2014, 2.1% of the total cotton crop in the United States was lost due to the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis).  This percentage is estimated to be 333,000 bales lost, which is up from 193,900 bales in 2013 and 268,700 bales in 2012 (Lawrence et. al. 2014).  With the increasing loss to reniform in cotton, this study was run to investigate yield loss to reniform over multiple cotton cultivars currently available on the market.  The trial was set up in two separate fields.  One field containing known reniform pressure, and the other absent of reniform.  In the reniform infested field, Velum Total (Fluopyram + Imidacloprid) was evaluated as an in-furrow spray over the 12 cultivars at 14 oz/acre.  The first parameter analyzed was yield loss due to the reniform nematode.  Reniform reduced cultivar yields by an average of 46.4% with no Velum Total, and 30.5% with the use of Velum Total.  In the reniform infested field, Velum Total increased yields by an average of 22.7%.  Reniform eggs per gram of root were also decreased via Velum Total by an average of 90.7% across all cotton cultivars.