Effects of production practices on temporal disease progress of Verticillium wilt of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in the Texas High Plains, USA

Abstract Verticillium wilt of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), caused by the soilborne fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is an economically damaging disease. To date, limited information is available regarding the effects of common production practices on the epidemiology of Verticillium wilt of cotton. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of different seeding rates and cotton cultivars on suppressing Verticillium wilt and simulate the temporal dynamics of Verticillium wilt in cotton. Field experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 at two locations naturally infested with V. dahliae in the Texas High Plains. Results indicated wilt incidence decreased significantly up to 49% when planting partially resistant cotton cultivars at higher seeding rates (9.8–19.5 seeds m−2) at both locations across years (P