Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Catchot, Angus L.

Committee Member

Gore, Jeffrey

Committee Member

Dodds, Darrin M.

Committee Member

Cook, Donald

Committee Member

Krutz, Jason L.

Date of Degree

5-9-2015

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Entomology

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Abstract

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), is the most important insect pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), in Mississippi. This research project was initiated to gain a better understanding of selected crop production factors that can improve tarnished plant bug integrated pest management. Results suggest that irrigation strategies and varietal pubescence can significantly influence tarnished plant bug management in cotton. Most notably, delaying irrigation for as long as possible and planting hairy varieties can minimize the impact of tarnished plant bug on cotton yields and reduce the number of insecticides needed to manage this pest. Additionally, these results show that tarnished plant bug management is most critical during the first four weeks of flowering. Results from these experiments will be used to improve the current integrated pest management program for tarnished plant bug in cotton and make cotton production more sustainable for Mississippi producers.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/18158

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