In 1997, Paymaster varieties were among the top yielding in the tests. The fact that disease problems did not surface until this year underscores the need for caution when switching varieties, Goldberg said. Cotton infected with Verticillium wilt is stunted, often with yellow-mottled leaves. Some infected plants fall over, exposing opened bolls to soil. Once plants are infected with Verticillium wilt, no effective treatment is known, she said.
Losses vary widely depending on the level of infection.