Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190764
Title: TEXTILE PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL AND TRANSGENIC COTTON WITH AND WITHOUT STINK BUG CONTROL

Author
item Bauer, Philip
item McAlister Iii, David
item ROOF, MITCHELL - CLEMSON UNIV., FLORENCE

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2006
Publication Date: 1/13/2006
Citation: Bauer, P.J., Mcalister III, D.D., Roof, M.E. 2006. Textile performance of conventional and transgenic cotton with and without stink bug control [abstract]. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 1855.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The number of acres planted to transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutem L.) cultivars has grown rapidly in the southeast USA. Partly due to reduction in insecticides applied with the widespread use of Bt cultivars, stink bugs [Acrosternum hilare (Say), Nezara viridula (L.), and Euschistus servus (Say)] have become important pests. At the same time, concerns about fiber quality of the cotton from the region have been raised. Our objective was to determine if transgenic traits and stink bug damage affect textile mill performance of cotton. Treatments in the study were cultivar (Stoneville 474 and its five transgenic siblings; 4793R, 4691B, 4892BR, BXN47, and BXN49B) and stink bug control (weekly insecticide applications to manage this pest versus untreated control). The cultivars used represented all combinations of transgenic technology that was available in 2002 when the study was initiated. Data were collected in 2002 and 2003. Stink bug damage was measured on quarter-sized bolls on 5 and 20 August in 2002 and on 7 and 26 August in 2003. Cotton yield, fiber properties, and mill performance were measured. Overall, the six cultivars had generally similar fiber properties, spinning efficiency, and yarn and fabric quality, and there were few interactions between cultivars and stink bug control levels. Levels of stink bug damaged bolls in August were greater for the cotton not treated with insecticides than for the cotton that was treated. Average percent damaged bolls ranged from 2 to 12% for the treated cotton and 9 to 21% for the untreated control. Although damage to bolls was greater for the untreated control, average seed cotton yield was lower for the cotton treated for stink bugs (1573 lbs per acre) than the untreated control (1763 lbs per acre) in 2002. In 2003, yields of the treated and untreated control were similar (average yield was 3353 lbs seedcotton per acre). Like yield, fiber properties and yarn and fabric quality were not improved with insecticide applications to control this pest. The data indicate that light-to-moderate stink bug damage does not result in reduced textile mill performance of the harvested fiber. The results also support previous studies that demonstrated that cultivars with transgenic are similar to their conventional parents for spinning efficiency and yarn quality.