From before the first seed is planted, everything that 1s done, 1.e. selection of seed variety, to all cultural practices and 1nsect control must have one aim and that is earliness.

To understand, and predict, Heliothis dynamics on cotton, along with changes in resistance levels, we must understand their dynamics on other hosts and the patterns of movement from these to cotton.

Pest management is only one link in the cotton management chain. To produce an early crop it is essential that all links in that chain be securely welded together.

SIRATAC users have the option early in the season of using standard thresholds or dynamic thresholds which vary between the standard level and an upper limit.

The Siratac system when it was originally conceived had no database system included in the workings of the system.

Cotton growers commonly apply nitrogen (N) fertilizer at rates of between 100 and 200 kg N/ha, yet the cotton plants seldom recover more than 40% of the applied N, and often much less.

You are all aware that currently there are three varieties available commercially: Siokra 1-2, Sicala 3-1 and DP90 (Deltapine - Acala) .

The CRC contracted Queensland Cotton and Siratac Ltd. to conduct a survey on the transfer of research information into the cotton industry.

Seedling diseases include seed rots, pre and post emergent damping 9ff and root pruning. Numerous fungi can be responsible although Rhizoctonia sp., Pythiwn spp. and Fusarium spp. are the most important.

Conference Cover

This Overview has been compiled after talking with a limited number of growers from most districts, and as could be expected there were some opposite opinions expressed.

AUSTRALIAN COTTON CONFERENCE ACGRA 1988 members , Agenda , 1988

Determination of the petiole nitrate nitrogen concentration (PNN) in the youngest fully expanded leaf (YFEL) of cotton is a useful indicator of plant nitrogen status.

The actual decision regarding which seed variety to plant had to be made some months -ago by growers through CSD, this decision is mostly based upon a number of factors, viz: 1: Yield 2: Resistance to insects and dise

Well to satisfy everyones's curiosity, r will answer the question straight away. Yes, we can survive resistance! However, in answering it, I shall put another, perhaps even more thought provoking than the first.

The major Australian cotton yarn spinners are encouraged by the improvements the researchers and the growers have managed to obtain in the newer varieties.

As major pests of cotton production, Heliothis spp. are of most concern to growers during the summer when they are active and damaging crops. Once autumn arrives and the crop is picked, Heliothis are soon forgotten.

The Cotton Council has been funding our project, for which we intend to identify cotton varieties with efficiency of dry matter production when irrigation is expensive, or relatively inexpensive.

There are increasing areas of cotton grown in regions which are prone to cool seasons, eg. the Darling Downs, the upper Namoi and upper Macquarie valleys.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, ranks second to Heliothis in importance as a pest of cotton. Mites reduce profitability by reducing the yield and fibre quality of cotton.