TARGET SPOT IN COTTON
Growers most likely to see benefit from applying fungicide for target spot have a crop with 1) high yield potential, 2) excellent growth, 3) disease appears at or soon after first bloom, and 4) grower makes fungicide application by 3rd week of bloom. Growers least likely to see a benefit from a fungicide application are those who a) have poor growth and a crop suffering from nutrient deficient, b) apply fungicide where target spot never develops, c) apply fungicide after target spot has cause 25% or more defoliation. Georgia growers should consider spraying fungicides to manage target spot from the 1st week of bloom until the 6th week. Growers who have had losses to target spot in the past may want to spray preventatively. Most growers will spray after disease is identified early in the epidemic. Losses to target spot of cotton in Georgia are often between 150-250 lb lint/acre. Best fungicides for managing target spot are Priaxor and Miravis Top. Headline is also very good. Quadris is fair to good.
