Seedling disease in cotton is most often caused by three pathogens: Pythium ultimum Trow., Rhizoctonia solani Kuehn, and Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk and Br.) Ferr. Sixteen interrelated cotton genotypes were evaluated for resistance to three seedling disease pathogens and for stand ability under two field conditions. The study was used to determine if the resistance parameters and stand ability are influenced by the genetic relationship of the genotypes and to relate seedling disease resistance to stand ability in these environments. The genotypes were evaluated in separate growth chamber tests for resistance to the pathogens and in two field trials for stand ability. Seed were germinated in a growth chamber and then inoculated by placing an agar disk containing the selected pathogen in direct contact with the seedling's hypocotyl. After incubation seedlings were evaluated for disease on a disease index scale of one to five. The field study was conducted at two locations and used to obtain stand counts. Stand counts were used as an indicator of stand ability. Genotypes varied in response to each pathogen, but none were highly susceptible nor highly resistant. The resistance level to one pathogen was nearly independent to the level of resistance to the other pathogens. Variability in stand ability was found but counts could not be explained by variation in pathogen resistance. Resistance and stand ability were not greatly influenced by the genetic relationships of the genotypes.