In 1995 bronze wilt appeared in a small number of fields in Missouri. In 1998 it appeared in many fields. In 1999 it was found only in rare instances late in the growing season. It appeared in Tennessee late in the growing season of 1999. In 1998 the predominant symptoms were bronze leaves, absence of squares, red stems, reduced plant size, rugose leaves, wilting and finally death. In 1999 the disease appeared later in the season. The predominant symptoms were red stems and leaves. Some plants had very bright red leaves. Usually the plants had squares. It was very difficult to distinguish the symptoms from drought stress. Drought stressed plants were also stunted, had red stems and wilted. Spider mites also caused reddening of the leaves giving the appearance of bronze wilt. These late appearing symptoms appear to have had little effect on the lint yield.

Varieties that contain TAMCOT SP-37 in their ancestry appear to be the most susceptible to the disease. However some other lines appear to have some susceptibility to the disease.