Effects of Planting Date and Variety on Thrips Populations and Injury to Cotton in the Southeastern United States

Tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (H.), is the most predictable pest of upland cotton, Gossypium hirstutum (L.) in the southeastern USA. By analyzing agricultural control practices, an accurate window of infestation can be found. Two of these cultural control practices are planting date and the variety of cotton used. Planting date and choice of variety when employed together can help mitigate damage from F. fusca infestations. A planting date study was conducted in Blackville, South Carolina, using a full-season variety in 2015 and an early maturing variety in 2016. In 2016, PHY 312, PHY 333, PHY 444, PHY 499, DP 1646, DP 1410, DP 1538, ST 4747, ST 4946, ST 6182, and FM1900 were planted at seven sites across the southeastern USA where F. fusca is known to be an annual problem. Thrips density, plant heights, plant weights, cotton yields, injury ratings, and cotton yields were taken. This information can aid cotton farmers from a risk management perspective to make the best decision for minimizing injury and losses from thrips.