Interference of Gossypol in Bioassay for Resistance to Tobacco Budworm in Cotton1

Abstract
The effect of gossypol on suppressing larval growth of tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.), was enhanced by diethyl ether extracts of flowerbuds of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). This effect was greater with extracts of glanded than with glandless flowerbuds. The greater increase in larval growth suppression caused by these extracts is sufficient to interfere with the laboratory bioassay for detecting sources of antibiosis other than gossypol in cotton fiowerbuds. Also, results of these laboratory tests suggest that a significant and useful larval growth suppression can be obtained with less than 1.2% gossypol in the flowerbud.

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