Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.3, 134-144 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 138 Cultural practices involve modifying the growing environment to reduce the incidence and severity of seedling diseases. Key cultural practices include crop rotation, stale seedbed techniques, and residue management. Rotating cotton with non-host crops can help break the life cycles of soil-borne pathogens like Rhizoctonia solani and Thielaviopsis basicola, thus reducing disease pressure in subsequent cotton crops (Delgado et al., 2005). Implementing stale seedbed production has shown variable effects on seedling diseases, but when combined with in-furrow fungicides, it can manage diseases effectively (Colyer and Vernon, 2005). Additionally, incorporating crop residues, particularly from crops like sugar beet, can reduce the incidence of black root rot by Thielaviopsis basicola (Delgado et al., 2005). 6.2 Chemical control Chemical control remains a widely used and effective strategy to manage seedling diseases in cotton. The use of fungicides can protect seedlings from various pathogens. Seed treatments with fungicides like Dynasty, Topsin-M, and Antracol have been effective in increasing seed germination rates and reducing disease incidence in different sowing conditions (Ehetisham-ul-Haq et al., 2014). Additionally, fungicides applied in-furrow during planting can significantly reduce seedling diseases. Studies have shown that in-furrow fungicides effectively manage diseases caused by pathogens such as Pythiumspp. andRhizoctonia spp. (Colyer and Vernon, 2005). 6.3 Biological control and integrated pest management (IPM) Biological control and IPM involve using natural enemies and combining multiple control strategies to manage diseases sustainably. The use of endophytic fungi such as Penicillium simplicissimumand Talaromyces flavus has shown promise in controlling Verticilliumwilt, a major seedling disease in cotton. These endophytes can reduce disease incidence and improve cotton yield (Yuan et al., 2017). Combining cultural practices, chemical treatments, and biological control methods forms the basis of IPM. This approach aims to minimize chemical use and promote sustainable agriculture. For instance, integrating conservation tillage with biological control agents and selective chemical applications can effectively manage seedling diseases (Sharma and Bambawale, 2008). By employing a combination of these strategies, cotton growers can effectively manage seedling diseases, ensuring healthy crop establishment and maximizing yield potential. 7 Advances in Research and Technology 7.1 Resistant varieties The development of resistant cotton varieties has been a significant focus in combating seedling diseases and improving crop yield. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) cotton breeding program in Australia has made notable progress in this area. They have successfully released cultivars resistant to several major diseases, including Bacterial blight, Verticilliumwilt, Fusariumwilt, and Cotton bunchy top. The program emphasizes the importance of utilizing genomic selection, high throughput phenomics, gene editing, and landscape genomics to continue developing resistant cultivars in the face of emerging biotic threats such as Black root rot and secondary pests (Egan and Stiller, 2022). In Pakistan, the introduction of genetically modified cotton (Bt-cotton) has been a key strategy to combat bollworms. However, the susceptibility of these cultivars to other pests and diseases varies. For instance, the cultivar 'FH-Lalazar' has shown low pest susceptibility and high seed-cotton yield, making it a recommended choice for higher yield and economic returns in Multan, Pakistan (Karar et al., 2020). 7.2 Innovations in Disease Detection Advancements in disease detection technologies are crucial for early identification and management of seedling diseases in cotton. High throughput phenomics, which involves the rapid measurement of phenotypic traits, is one such innovation being utilized in the CSIRO cotton breeding program. This technology allows for the efficient screening of large populations of cotton plants for disease resistance traits, thereby accelerating the breeding process (Egan and Stiller, 2022). 7.3 Precision agriculture and digital tools The integration of precision agriculture and digital tools is transforming cotton farming by enabling more accurate
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