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Increased Protein, Insect Mortality and Yield with Chaperone™

D.M. Oosterhuis and R.S. Brown

ABSTRACT

The plant growth regulator Chaperoneā„¢ has been reported to increase plant nitrogen levels, promote protein constituent transport, and increase overall yields. Field and growth chamber studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to quantify the effect of foliar applications of Chaperone on protein and endotoxin levels of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaves and squares, and the subsequent effect on bollworm mortality and yield. In a growth chamber study in 2002, using cotton cultivar DP33B, Chaperone treatments were applied at the seventh true leaf as a foliar spray at 5, 10 and 20 oz/acre. The upper expanded main-stem leaves were sampled 10 days later for protein and endotoxin determinations, and insect mortality. Results indicated that insect mortality was increased 10, 14 and 23% on Chaperone-treated leaves and 16, 11, and 13% on squares at 5, 10, and 20 oz/acre, respectively, 10 days after application. In field studies in 2002, Chaperone at 5 oz/acre applied at matchhead square (MHS) and first flower (FF) increased yield 13.4% compared to the untreated control with an accompanying +7.7% increase in protein levels in leaves. In 2003, Chaperone at 5 oz/acre at MHS and FF increased protein in the leaves (+2.1 to 5.6%) and in the squares (+5.1 to 53.5%), with better expression of Bt endotoxin in leaves (-1.7%to +17.4%) and squares (+0.7 to 22.2%), and higher mortality of bollworms feeding (+9.5%) on treated plants compared to untreated leaves 10 days after application. Data from the growth chamber and field studies in 2002 and 2003 show that foliar applications of Chaperone may be a viable means for enhancing lint yields in cotton through the enhancement of plant protein levels. Furthermore, the enhanced protein status contributes to improved late season endotoxin levels, paricularly in the squares, that contributes to increase mortality of neonate bollworms feeding on the treated plants.





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Document last modified 04/27/04