The Texas Plains cottongrowing region is not known for raising Pima varieties of cotton, but an increasing interest in the crop has Texas A&M AgriLife officials concerned the newcomer will bring with it a yield-limiting fungus that could be introduced to the larger Upland cotton growing area.
Fusarium wilt of cotton race 4, known as FOV4, has had a very limited impact on Texas cotton so far. In 2017, AgriLife personnel first confirmed its presence in at least 30 fields in two Far West counties – El Paso and Hudspeth.
The effects of the disease can be seen as large, bare areas ...