Cotton production across the United States is under serious threat from a soil-inhabiting fungus called Fusarium oxysporum vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4), which causes Fusarium wilt. After years of fighting the fungus in California, the battle field is now in Texas and cotton breeder Dr. Jim Olvey discussed the topic at the recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences.
“It’s been a great collaborative effort between private industry, public sector and Cotton Incorporated in a unique problem-solving approach,” said Olvey. “It was an ongoing problem and I think we’re really close to solving it.”
Olvey says they have developed advanced upland lines that are resistant to FOV4. “This year we’re going to spend a lot of time working with different seed companies with different varieties and find out how many commercial varieties growers grow have resistance. I suspect it’s very few.”
Learn more in this interview with Dr. Jim Olvey, O&A Enterprises cotton breeder.
Interview with Jim Olvey, cotton breeder 4:19