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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #239901
Title: Actual and simulated injury of Creontiades signatus (Heteroptera: Miridae) feeding on cotton bolls

Author
item Armstrong, John
item Coleman, Randy
item DUGGAN, BRIAN - Monsanto Corporation

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2009
Publication Date: 1/17/2010
Citation: Armstrong, J.S., Coleman, R.J., Duggan, B.L. 2010. Actual and simulated injury of Creontiades signatus (Heteroptera: Miridae) feeding on cotton bolls. Journal of Entomological Science. 45(2):170-177.

Interpretive Summary: We compared the actual feeding of Creontiades signatus (Distant) to a simulated technique of injecting pectinase dilutions into “Stoneville 474” cotton bolls during the 2005, 2006 and 2008 growing seasons at the USDA-ARS research farms near Weslaco, TX . The most accurate simulation technique occurred in 2008 and was achieved by applying 4, 1 µl injections of 10% diluted pectinase into 4 locules of a cotton boll. As might be expected, younger cotton bolls that were >2 cm (2 d of age) and medium age >2.5 cm (8 d of age) bolls and both sustained significantly more injury than the large boll classification of >3 cm (12 d of age). Small bolls were also at least 3 times more likely to abscise than medium size bolls, and large bolls did not abscise regardless of treatment. Some damage was recorded for large bolls from the injected and actual feeding compared to the controls, but the lint and seed weights were not different for any of the treatments including the controls. Our study characterizes the feeding injury caused by C. signatus and describes a simulated technique that may be used to further economic injury studies.

Technical Abstract: The actual feeding injury of Creontiades signatus (Distant) was compared to a simulated technique for study years 2005, 2006 and 2008 by injecting varying dilutions of pectinase into cotton bolls at different boll sizes (ages) in an effort to determine if such a technique could be used to reduce the time and labor involved with conducting economic injury level studies. The most accurate simulation occurred in 2008 by injecting 1 µl of 10% pectinase into 4 locks of a cotton boll. This improved the relationships of injury score, seed cotton, seed, and lint weights. The youngest boll age class of >2 cm (2 d of age) were not significantly more damaged than the medium age >2.5 cm (8 d of age) bolls, and both sustained significantly more injury than the large boll classification of >3 cm (12 d of age). However, small bolls were at least 3 times more likely to abscise than medium size bolls, and large bolls did not abscise regardless of treatment. Some damage was recorded for large bolls from the injected and actual feeding compared to the controls, but the lint and seed weights were not different for any of the treatments including the controls. Our study characterizes the feeding injury caused by C. signatus and describes a simulated technique that may be used to further economic injury studies.