DATE:     9/24/02
CONTACT:  Dr. Mike Sullivan, (803) 284-3343; msllvn@clemson.edu
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343; tlollis@clemson.edu

Clemson meeting will teach S.C.
cotton growers about Bollgard II

     BLACKVILLE -- South Carolina cotton growers interested in planting
the next generation of transgenic cotton are invited to hear an update
on Bollgard II Oct. 15 at Clemson University's Edisto Research and
Education Center.
    "About 60 percent of the cotton varieties planted in the state this
year use Bollgard technology, a gene inserted in the plant so that it
produces a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin which kills cotton
bollworms, the major pest for the crop in South Carolina," said Mike
Sullivan, Clemson research entomologist at Edisto REC.
     "Bollgard II is better," he said. "It contains two different Bt
genes, and it is very effective against all lepidopterous caterpillars.
However, it is not effective against the complex of piercing/sucking
insects such as stinkbugs and plant bugs nor against aphids.
     Sullivan said that growers spray conventional cotton three to six
times a year for bollworms.
     "For now it looks as if we're not going to have to spray Bollgard
II for bollworms," he said.
     "Bollgard II gives us a new tool for use in integrated pest
management systems. The keys to growing it will be scouting, conserving
beneficial insects as long as you can, and spraying insecticides only
for the piercing/sucking bug complex and aphids," said Sullivan.
     Details on how to manage Bollgard II will be discussed on Oct. 15.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10 o'clock.
     Walt Mullins and Dan Pitts, both of Monsanto, will talk about
performance of Bollgard II cotton across the cotton belt and in South
Carolina.
     Clemson entomologist Sam Turnipseed will give an update on the
stink bug/plant bug complex in the state. Aaron Hagerty, a Clemson PhD
graduate student, will talk about the roll of beneficials in management
of Bollgard II.
     Amy Gibson, a Clemson M.S. graduate student, will talk about
neonicotinoid insecticides for aphids, stink bugs and plant bugs.
Sullivan will give an overall picture of insect management for the new
cotton and Mitch Roof, Extension cotton specialist, will update Clemson
recommendations on cotton for 2003.
     A barbecue dinner will be served around noon.
     Edisto REC is about three miles northwest of Blackville on U.S.
Highway 78 in Barnwell County.
                              END