Selection in cotton for boll weevil resistance

Abstract

The boll weevil Anthonomus grandis Boheman is one of the major pests of cotton in Brazil. There have been many attempts to locate sources of plant resistance to this insect in USA. Some authors listed primitive Gossypium hirsutum L. that have given significant reduction in oviposition punctures in laboratory tests and some lines showed significant reduction of boll weevil population under fleld conditions. From these stocks, after cross with Stoneville 213, PNH₃ and CNPA Precoce 2, some lines with resistance and with good fiber and yield characteristics were developed.