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LOGO: Journal of Cotton Science

 

Bronze Wilt Symptoms Reduced Yields in Georgia in 2024

Authors: Lavesta C. Hand, Gaylon Morgan, Sudeep Bag, Phillip Roberts, John Snider, Peng W. Chee, and Robert C. Kemerait
Pages: 124-133
Agronomy and Soils
DOI: (https://doi.org/10.56454/SQNT2326)

Bronze wilt was an issue for the cotton industry in the 1990s but mentions of bronze wilt in the literature were minimal until cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) was observed across the cotton belt beginning in 2017. In 2024, bronze wilt symptoms were observed at high levels in Southwest Georgia. University of Georgia on-farm cotton variety trials (10 varieties evaluated across 19 locations) were used to quantify susceptibility to expression of bronze wilt symptoms and impacts on lint yield. Overall, the four varieties evaluated were determined to express bronze wilt symptoms; an additional variety outside the trial program was determined to be susceptible based on observations in grower fields. Differences in symptom severity were observed among locations, with some showing significant yield impacts, whereas others were unaffected. Averaged across non-yield-limiting locations (14 out of 19), 2 to 3% symptomatic plants were observed in symptomatic varieties: symptoms increased to 28 to 35% averaged across yield-limiting locations (5 out of 19). Where yield was affected, bronze wilt symptoms reduced lint yield 16 to 32% in the four susceptible varieties. Across all locations, a negative linear relationship was observed within susceptible varieties: a 1% increase in symptoms resulted in a 0.54% decrease in relative lint yield. These data are the first from replicated research to document yield losses associated with bronze wilt symptoms. Future research should evaluate in-field variety screening methods, genetics of susceptibility to expression of bronze wilt symptoms, and controlled environment experiments to replicate symptoms.