Weather has been good for whitemold development (6 AM, 76F and 96% humidity this morning, perfect for a white mold gone wild festival)
That is how white mold is this year. Because of the weather, it keeps going and going and going if not kept in check with an effective fungicide program.
Pictures today are some “eye candy” from Tift Co with Justin Hand. The first two are outstanding images of “tiger striping” (interveinal chlorosis) that is associated with the cotton roots boogered up by the southern root-knot nematodes in the field. The damaged roots affect adequate translocation of nutrients throughout the plant.
The third picture is amazing and the result of an error at planting (when the furrow is closed you watch from the bleachers as the Home Team Cotton get punished by Team Root-knot). Can you guess what the error was? Dr. Hand and Justin will tell you. The “good” cotton in the picture was planted 18 inches off center from where cotton was planted last year. The “bad” cotton was planted DIRECTLY over last year’s cotton row. Planting directly where cotton was planted last year has resulted in cotton under siege from nematodes since the moment it germinated. Take home message- there are many tactics to effectively manage nematodes in a cotton or peanut or soybean or corn crop, all of which are spent when the furrow is closed.