Certified seeds prevent problems in cotton

The beginning of the cotton cycle demands extra attention from the producer, especially in the first weeks after the emergence of the plants. According to Gisele de Souza Borges, an agricultural engineer, one of the main challenges in this phase is the falling or mela, a common disease in the initial vegetative period that can compromise the formation of the crop. The problem is caused by soil fungi, with Rhizoctonia solani Kunchn being prominent, which finds favorable conditions in humid and poorly drained environments. The disease manifests itself through irregular lesions of brown color, often with reddish hues, that appear at the base of the seedlings. As the attack progresses, there is a weakening of the plant tissue, leading to the plants falling over and, in many cases, early death. This process significantly reduces the population of plants in the field, affecting the uniformity of the crop and the productive potential of the culture. The loss of plants at the beginning of ...