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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427288
Research Project: Ecologically Sustainable Approaches to Insect Resistance Management in Bt Cotton

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: Impact of aldicarb and ThryvOn on tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca) and reniform nematode (Rotylenchus reniformis)

Author
item FARMER, WALKER - Mississippi State University
item GARE, JEFF - Mississippi State University
item CATCHOT, ANGUS - Mississippi State University
item CROW, WHITNEY - Mississippi State University
item COOK, DON - Mississippi State University
item PIERALISI, BRIAN - Mississippi State University
item TOWLES, TYLER - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2025
Publication Date: 4/8/2025
Citation: Farmer, W., Gare, J., Catchot, A., Crow, W., Cook, D., Pieralisi, B., Towles, T. 2025. Impact of aldicarb and ThryvOn on tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca) and reniform nematode (Rotylenchus reniformis). Journal of Cotton Science. 29(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.56454/PWDP7408.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56454/PWDP7408

Interpretive Summary: Thrips and nematodes have long been persistent pests affecting cotton production in the southern United States, posing challenges for growers seeking effective management strategies. This study assessed the efficacy of both conventional synthetic insecticides and newer transgenic insecticidal technologies in controlling these key pests. Results indicated that transgenic insecticides provided sufficient control of thrips and nematodes, reducing the need for synthetic insecticide applications. The adoption of transgenic solutions offers the potential to minimize reliance on traditional chemical inputs, thereby supporting more sustainable pest management practices in cotton production.

Technical Abstract: In 2022, thrips infestations affected approximately 98% of U.S. cotton hectares, totaling more than 2.8 million hectares. In the Mid-South, most cotton hectares undergo some form of preventative insecticide treatment, with imidacloprid and acephate seed treatments being the most commonly used in Mississippi cotton production. Despite seed treatments, an estimated 40 to 45% of planted acreage requires an additional foliar insecticide application to achieve effective thrips control.All cotton hectares in Mississippi are infested with tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca), while some areas also experience infestations of reniform nematodes (Rotylenchulus reniformis). The extent of nematode-related damage varies annually, influenced by environmental conditions. Historically, reniform nematodes and thrips have been managed using aldicarb, a granular insecticide, in combination with other soil-incorporated nematicides and insecticide seed treatments.The overall impact of aldicarb and the new ThryvOn® technology on reniform nematodes and tobacco thrips within Mississippi cotton production systems remains uncertain. This study examined both ThryvOn and non-ThryvOn cotton varieties alongside various rates of at-planting insecticides to assess their effectiveness in managing early-season thrips and nematode infestations.