Inner Boll Rotting Bacteria Associated with Feeding By the Verde Plant Bug (Creontiades signatus)

Previously, we demonstrated that pathogenic bacterial strains can cause an inner boll rot in southeastern grown cotton.  Interestingly, the outer carpel wall appears normal.  The pathogens were vectored by stink bugs.  Recently, a similar boll rot has been reported to occur in south Texas.  Here, we will discuss a different spectrum of inner boll rot bacteria capable of infecting cotton.  The pathogens are transmitted by the verde plant bug.  Disease symptomology and vector association will also be addressed.