Shanjun Zhu , Mengting Luo

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Field Crop, 2024, Vol. 7, No. 3   
Received: 10 Mar., 2024    Accepted: 20 Apr., 2024    Published: 10 May, 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The establishment and yield of cotton crops are significantly impacted by seedling diseases, which are influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. This study examines the effects of different pathogens, environmental conditions, and management practices on cotton seedling health and subsequent crop yield. Key pathogens such as Thielaviopsis basicola, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium spp., and Verticillium dahliae have been identified as major contributors to seedling diseases, leading to reduced plant growth and yield losses. The role of cover crops, particularly winter legumes, in managing soilborne pathogens and their mixed effects on different pathogens is also discussed. Additionally, the impact of insect pests like thrips and the cotton-leaf crumple virus on seedling health and yield is considered. Biological control methods, including the use of endophytic fungi and Trichoderma spp., show promise in mitigating these diseases and improving yield. This study highlights the importance of integrated disease management strategies, including crop rotation, resistant cultivars, and biological control, to enhance cotton crop establishment and productivity under varying environmental conditions.

Cotton seedling diseases; Soilborne pathogens; Biological control; Crop yield; Integrated disease management