This disease typically appears in November and December when the cotton crop is in the square and boll stages.
Low temperatures (15-20°C), poorly-drained, low-lying soils, and excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers are favourable conditions for the occurrence of this disease.
Damage Symptoms:
The initial symptoms include mottling of leaves, with yellowish areas at the margins and between the main veins.
These yellowish areas progressively turn pale, become whitish, and eventually necrotic.
The necrosis spreads from the lower to the upper leaves, causing the affected leaves to fall off, leaving the branches barren.
Pinkish streaks, alternating with healthy tissue, are visible when the bark of the roots, stem, and petiole is removed.
Affected plants often bear only a few smaller bolls.
Preventive Measures
Remove and destroy infected plant debris after deep ploughing during the summer months.
