The most reliable and economic method for seedling disease control is the use of fungicides. Fungicides are the least toxic of the pesticides to warm-blooded animals and they have specific toxicities to the fungi that they control. Cotton seedling disease management research has been conducted at the AAES's Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center in Belle Mina, the Wiregrass Research and Extension center in Headland, and the Prattville Experiment Field. The objective of this research was to examine the efficacy of selected fungicides for control of the seedling disease complex of Alabama cotton and subsequent effects on the growth and development of the cotton plants and yield responses. In 1999, researchers examined more than 40 fungicide formulations, including seed treatments and in-furrow granular and spray formulations.
Seed treatments are liquids or powders applied directly to the seed before planting.
In-furrow granule applications are dry particles less than 0.1 inch in diameter that are placed in the seed furrow at planting. In-furrow spray applications may be liquid or dry formulations that are dissolved in water and then sprayed in the seed furrow at planting. Each fungicide was applied at the manufacturers' recommended rates and application methods at planting. A control was included in each test to provide an example of disease severity and yield losses that can be expected if no fungicides are included at cotton planting. The tests were conducted to simulate actual conditions a producer faces in the field.