Wind Damage

Howdy,

  We experienced some high winds recently. I am hoping this rain has helped with some of the moderately damaged plants. It should now be easier to see what will need to be replanted. Research shows that fields can still be considered viable with stand counts as low as 13,000 to 26,000 plants per acre, as long as they are evenly spaced. The seedlings that will survive are any that have a viable growth point. 

Dead seedling on left, two viable seedlings middle and right
Photo: Kate Harrell

Wind killed cotton seedling
Photo: Kate Harrell

  If the stem is crispy as in the above photo, the seedling will not survive. If it's burned, but the growth point is still intact as in the two photos below, the seedling should survive.

Wind damaged Cotton Seedling
Photo: Kate Harrell

Viable growth point on wind damaged cotton seedling
Photo: Kate Harrell

Severely wind damaged cotton seedlings
Photo: Kate Harrell

The seedlings in the photo to the left were severely damaged. The field I took this photo in will need to be replanted.

  Also, I have observed winged and wingless cotton aphids across all three counties. The cotton aphids rarely occur in numbers high enough to justify treatment. There would need to be 50 aphids per leaf before treatment would be necessary. In the fields with aphids, there were also high numbers of beneficials. Lady beetles, parasitic wasps, and disease prey on aphids. I've seen aphid mummies (from wasp parasitoids) and lady beetle larvae in several fields. The rains, heavy dew and humidity lately should also promote disease and fungal pathogens in aphid colonies. All of this can make a serious dent in aphid numbers rapidly.

  In addition, thrips are still around. Look for an average of at least one per true leaf before worrying about treatment. Once the plants pass the 5th true leave stage, thrips damage will no longer be a concern.

Winged Cotton Aphids
http://agrilife.org/mid-coast-ipm/2017/04/05/cotton-aphids-in-seedling-cotton/

  I have been checking on our sorghum variety trials as well as a couple of sugarcane aphid variety trials. There haven't been any sugarcane aphids move into the sorghum I've seen so far, but they are in the johnson grass in the ditches and edges of the fields. A&M is participating in a nation wide mapping project for the sugarcane aphid movement. I am only checking very few sorghum locations. If you see sugarcane aphids moving into sorghum, I would greatly appreciate it if you would contact me. Your input will help a great deal with this mapping project.

  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a happy Easter and a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Kate

Source articles:

http://agrilife.org/mid-coast-ipm/2017/04/05/cotton-aphids-in-seedling-cotton/

http://cotton.tamu.edu/General%20Production/Making%20Replant%20Decisions_2007.pdf