Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina
January 2, 2008
With seed-applied insecticides
evolving rapidly since the first one debuted in 1995, cotton
growers are ever-eager to try the latest offerings as soon as
they become available. The 2007 crop season was no exception,
with many growers opting to use Aeris® insecticide/nematicide
seed treatment during its inaugural season.
University Extension entomologists also looked at Aeris closely
this year. The resulting research showed Aeris provides
protection against a broad range of problematic pests, including
western flower thrips.
“The western flower thrips numbers in our Aeris research plots
were pretty low, so there’s some efficacy there,” said David
Kerns, Extension entomologist at Texas A&M University. “At 26
days, we were still seeing activity.”
After 26 days, Aeris plots had 0.15 thrips per plant, while the
untreated check had 1.95 thrips per plant, he said.
Kerns asserted that even though western flower thrips are tiny -
just one-twentieth of an inch long - their economic impact in
cotton can be huge. Thrips infested 3 million cotton acres in
Texas - more than any other insect pest. The resulting damage
cost growers an estimated yield of 49,000 bales (more than 23.5
million pounds) of cotton.
“Western flower thrips tend to be more difficult to control,”
Kerns said. “We do a lot of research on this pest.”
Chip Graham, senior technical development specialist for Bayer
CropScience, spent most of last spring and summer traveling
across the Cotton Belt to view Aeris-treated cotton in
small-plot university trials and larger grower fields. He said
he is very pleased with the results he saw this year.
“Aeris has performed consistently from coast to coast,” he said.
“In particular, we saw very good activity on early season thrips
and aphids. Also, Aeris did very well against both root-knot and
reniform nematodes.”
Graham said he observed favorable root gall ratings and early
season seedling vigor ratings when scouting fields that were
treated with Aeris.
Aeris can also be bundled with Trilex™ Advanced Seed-Applied
System, a premium fungicide that gives growers protection
against the most damaging cotton diseases, including Pythium,
Rhizoctonia and Thielaviopsis.
For more information about Aeris and Trilex Advanced, contact
your local Bayer CropScience sales representative or visit
www.CottonExperts.com.
Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of
Bayer CropScience AG.
Bayer AG is a global research-based and growth-oriented
enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care,
nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience AG, a
subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 5.7
billion (2006), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop
science companies in the areas of crop protection,
non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology.
The company offers an outstanding range of products and
extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and
for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a
global workforce of about 17,900 and is represented in more than
120 countries. |
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