Development of Pink Bollworm Population in Field Cages Containing Deltapine Nextaried and Nectariless Cottons

Abstract

The development of populations of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) in 0.003 ha field cages containing 'Deltapine 61' (DPL-61) or a closely related nectariless cultivar 'Deltapine NSL' (DPL-NSL) was studied at the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZ. Boll infestations were significantly lower in cages of DPL-NSL and total catches of moths in gossyplure-baited Delta traps at the end of the season were lower in these cages. The overall seasonal increases were 15.3- fold for DPL-NSL and 21.4 fold for DPL-61, a highly significant 29% reduction for DPLNSL.