Appropriate time for pruning cotton plant aiming at pest control

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the appropriate time to prune the terminal portions of the cotton plants. The work was carried out during 2008 and 2009 (May–November) growing seasons in a randomized block design in two environment, with the varieties: BRS 201, of white fibers, and the colored fiber varieties BRS Rubi, BRS Safira, and BRS Verde, in Paudalho, PE, Brazil; and BRS 201 and BRS Rubi, in Surubim, PE, Brazil. Pruning consisted in excising the apices with the vegetative and reproductive structures, at two plant ages: with 50% mature bolls (prune I), and at the opening of the first boll (prune II). Prune I resulted in greater excision of flower buds than prune II. In both prunings, five nodes from the plant apex were excised. Yield and fiber quality did not differ between pruned and nonpruned plants. A significant number of infested structures was removed by pruning. Pruning can be recommended to reduce nonproductive structures that can, at the end of the season, be used as hosts for important pests.