IMPORTANT NOTE ON COTTON WILT 
AND NEMATODE INJURY 
During the middle part of the 1951 growing sea- 
son, we received some reports from farmers in 
widely scattered areas that their cotton was dying 
from wilt. In each instance our plant disease spe- 
cialists examined these fields and in nearly every 
case found that there was some damage by the 
Fusarium wilt disease. However, in all cases there 
was also damage by nematodes. The abnormally 
hot, dry weather during this past growing season 
apparently accounted for the fact that there was 
somewhat more than the average amount of both 
nematode and wilt injury. Parasitic nematodes, espe- 
cially the root knot and root lesion nematodes, caused 
more damage to cotton and most other field crops 
in 1951 than had been apparently the case in the 
last few years. Nematodes are very small eel-like 
worms that are present in most of the soils through- 
out the southeastern states, especially in the sandy 
or light soils of the Coastal Plain areas. Nematode 
injury, as well as injury from mechanical or other 
means, usually accelerates invasion of roots by the 
wilt organism, and a combination of the two may 
cause severe losses. Where injury by either or both 
nematodes and wilt occurs, plants may be stunted or 
killed outright and both yield and quality of cotton 
affected. 
Nematode infestation may be controlled to a 
certain extent by crop rotation, early destruction of 
stalks by turning, and by the use of chemical soil 
treatments. 
FUSARIUM WILT is widely distributed through- 
out the cotton belt from Texas and Oklahoma to 
the Atlantic coast and is particularly severe in the 
more acid soils or light soils of the Coastal Plain, 
especially where there is a deficiency of such plant 
food elements as potash. Diseased plants may be 
recognized by the stunted growth due to short joints 
and by the yellowing and wilting of leaves on the 
plant. This yellowing usually starts on one side of 
the plant, and in most cases on one side of the in- 
dividual leaves. A brownish discoloration of the 
internal tissues is observed when the bark of dis- 
eased plants is peeled back or stems are cut through. 
VERTICILLIUM WILT has been found in most 
cotton belt states, and in some of these it is a major 
problem to cotton growers. This disease, however, 
prefers the sweet or more alkaline soils and has been 
of no consequence in the cotton growing areas of the 
southeastern states outside the Mississippi Delta. 
It is more active during and immediately following 
a cool, rainy period. Field symptoms of Verticillium 
wilt are similar to those of Fusarium wilt, and lab- 
oratory diagnosis is usually necessary to differenti- 
ate between the two. 
Our Coker 100 Wilt Resistant Cotton has been 
bred to produce maximum yield on soils infested with 
Fusarium wilt, and it has some tolerance to Verti- 
cillium wilt. However, due to the development of 
apparently new races of wilt, complicated by adverse 
seasonal conditions, improper fertilization and cul- 
tural practices, and the presence in most instances 
of nematodes, no conscientious breeder can guarantee 
any wilt resistant cotton to survive 100% on any 
wilt infested soils. 
RED HEART TRADE MARK ON ALL BAGS OF 
GENUINE COKER’S PEDIGREED SEED 
Our seed are all sent out in bags labeled ““COKER’S 
PEDIGREED SEED” and bearing our registered 
Red Heart Trade Mark. Each bag also bears our 
O.K. tag and is officially sealed before leaving our 
warehouse. No seed is genuine “COKER’S PEDI- 
GREED SEED” unless it bears our official O.K. tag 
under seal and our Red Heart Trade Mark. Protect 
yourself by insisting upon having only seed bearing 
our official O.K. tag and registered Trade Mark. 
OUR RESPONSIBILITY 
Our seed are all carefully tested for germination 
and purity before shipment. Attached to every bag 
of seed we ship is a card on which is printed the 
percentage of germination and mechanical purity of 
that particular lot of seed. Under no circumstances, 
however, can we be responsible for the germination 
of the seed after they have been planted for there 
are many reasons for imperfect germination of 
planted seed other than their vitality. In no case 
do we give any warranty expressed or implied as to 
the productivity or performance of our seed. 
EFFECT OF GROWING CONDITIONS 
Our descriptions are based on the actual records 
that our varieties have produced in our tests and 
they will show the same characteristics elsewhere 
under the same conditions. Drought or POOR CON- 
DITIONS will result in a reduced yield and poorer 
quality—no matter what variety is planted. 
