Spread and development of Verticillum wilt or cotton wilt in the western part of Azerbaijan

Almost 136 thousand hectares of cotton crops in Azerbaijan, the unique climate allows growing almost all cultivars of cotton. More than half of the cotton crops are in the Ganja-Kazakh geographical zone of the country. The development of cotton growing in Azerbaijan as a highly profitable sector of the economy is inextricably linked not only with active selection work, the introduction of new cultivars and progressive technologies, but also with the creation of an effective set of protective measures. In recent years, with the increase in areas under cotton and the growth of its productivity, the likelihood of the spread of harmful mycoses has significantly increased. Among the widespread diseases in cotton crops, Verticillium wilt occupies a special place. Verticillium wilt is a very harmful disease. During its development in the plant, the osmotic pressure and cell turgor decrease, transpiration increases, the flow of water and minerals to the roots and aboveground organs of the plant slows down, the parenchymatous cells of the wood die off and the leaves fall prematurely, which leads to a sharp decrease in the yield and quality of cotton. In connection with the above, the objective of our research was to study and diagnose verticillium wilt of cotton in the conditions of the western part of Azerbaijan. In the 2022-2024 research years, an assessment was made of the prevalence and intensity of verticillium wilt of cotton in the region, and a scientifically based and improved control system was developed. For this purpose, the following preparations were tested in the fight against verticillium wilt of cotton: Kolosal Pro, EC, Fitolavin, VRK and control without chemical treatment. Analysis of the conducted field studies show that the fungicide Fitolavin, VRK on all cultivars of cotton showed high biological efficiency against the disease.