Bulletin 214, Cotton Diseases in Florida


Fig. 3.-A cotton plant showing the wilt disease. Note the almost entire
 absence of bolls, and the galls on the roots, caused by nematodes.

Fig. 2. This discoloration of the vascular tissue of the cotton plant
is conclusive evidence of the presence of the wilt disease.

 CONTROL
 Fortunately, the wilt disease may be rather easily controlled
by the use of resistant varieties. Quite a number of wilt-resistant
varieties have been developed and several of them are satisfactory
for Florida conditions. There is a tendency for the wilt resistant
varieties to be a little later than some of the non-resistant varie-
ties, but this is a point of minor importance where wilt is abund-
ant. Only wilt-resistant varieties should be planted on infested
soil, and seed of such varieties should be obtained from only relia-
ble seedsmen who have grown their seed on wilt-infested soil. In
saving his own seed the farmer should select seed only from the
healthiest plants in the wilt soil and should gin them separately
to avoid mixture with less desirable seed. In any case, new seed
should be obtained every two or three years, as admixture occurs
unless special facilities to prevent this are available. Resistance