Evangelos D. Gonias

Physiologic Response of Cotton to the Insecticide Imidacloprid under High-Temperature Stress

The insecticide imidacloprid (tradename Trimax™) has been shown to increase cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield in the absence of insects, but the explanation for this is not clear. Growth room studies were designed to investigate changes in the physiology and biochemistry of imidacloprid-treated cotton plants and provide information on the mode of action of yield enhancement. Imidacloprid was applied at the pinhead square growth stage at the rate of 52.3 g ai/ha and plants were exposed to day temperatures of 30, 33, 36, and 39°C. Increased levels of photosynthesis and higher values of chlorophyll fluorescence yield, measured two days after imidacloprid application, showed an advantage of imidacloprid-treated over untreated plants. The effect of imidacloprid was greater at the higher temperatures of the growth chamber studies. The results suggested that the imidacloprid-treated plants suffered less temperature stress. This suggestion was supported by findings of reduced glutathione reductase in the imidacloprid-treated plants in the growth chamber, indicating that the untreated plants were experiencing more stress, necessitating the activation of this defense mechanism.

Cotton radiation use efficiency response to plant growth regulators

Plant growth regulators are widely used in cotton production to improve crop management. Previous research has demonstrated changes in crop growth, dry matter (DM) partitioning and lint yield of cotton after the application of plant growth regulators. However, no reports are available demonstrating the effect of plant growth regulators on light interception and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Field studies were conducted in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA in 2006 and 2007. RUE was estimated for the period between the pinhead square stage (PHS) of growth and 3 weeks after first flower (FF+3) from plots receiving three applications of the nitrophenolate and mepiquat chloride with Bacillus cereus plant growth regulators (Chaperone™) at 7·19 g a.i./ha and Pix Plus ® at 41·94 g a.i./ha compared with an untreated control. No differences between the Chaperone treatment and the untreated control were found in the present study. However, Pix Plus significantly reduced plant height (both 2006 and 2007) and leaf area (2007 only), and altered the canopy structure of the crop as recorded by increased values of canopy extinction coefficient. Although DM accumulation was found not to be affected by plant growth regulator treatments, RUE was significantly increased after Pix Plus application, by 33·2%. RUE was increased because less light was intercepted by the Pix Plus treatment for the same biomass production, and this is probably a result of changes in photosynthetic capacity of the leaves and changes in light distribution throughout the canopy.

Estimating Light Interception by Cotton Using a Digital Imaging Technique

Radiation intercepted by the crop canopy is directly correlated to dry matter accumulation. Calculation of fractional light interception by the crop is commonly performed by measuring photosynthetically active radiation above and below the canopy using a line-source quantum sensor. However, this method is limited by the time of measurement and the presence of clouds. For soybeans grown in 19-cm rows, ground coverage values estimated from digital images taken above the canopy have been correlated to light interception measurements, but there have been no reports of using this method in cotton or in other crops on wide rows. In this study, a digital imaging technique was used to establish a relationship between fractional canopy coverage and fractional light interception for cotton. This study suggests that digital imagining may be used as an alternative technique for estimating light interception by cotton.