Evaluation of Cry51Aa2.834_16 traited cotton as a control method of cotton fleahoppers (Pseudatomocelis seriatus Reuter)

The cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomocelis seriatus Reuter) is considered one of the highest economically damaging insect pests to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Texas. Current control methods rely heavily on the use of chemical insecticides during the early fruiting stage of cotton growth. Considering the cost of insecticides and the critical timeliness of applications chemical control methods are often times not optimized to reduce the potential yield loss. The Cry51Aa2.834_16 gene cotton has proven effective against insect pests with piercing and sucking feeding behaviors, suggesting the trait may also prove effective at minimizing yield losses due to the cotton fleahopper. To evaluate the traits effectiveness a large plot field trial was conducted to compare a cotton cultivar containing the trait and a non-traited isoline cultivar. The field trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design with the two cultivars either untreated or sprayed with an insecticide when cotton fleahoppers reached the economic threshold. Weekly populations were noted by visually inspecting terminals and fruit retention was calculated weekly by a whole plant examination. While cotton fleahopper populations did not statistically differ between the cultivars during the 2019 and 2020 growing season both years showed a significant increase in fruit retention of the traited cultivar suggesting the trait is deterring feeding from the pest.