There are several diseases that severely reduce yields in cotton across the cotton belt. However, some of these such as Phymatotrichum root rot and Verticillium wilt cause damage only in certain areas of the country.

The seedling disease complex, on the other hand causes damage worldwide. In the U.S., seedling disease accounted for an average annual loss of 326,000 bales each year during the period 1980-85. This amounts to an annual 2.63% loss or $81.5 million across the cotton belt. This is more loss than any other disease in the U.S.