Exploring the Dual Effects of Jasmonic Acid on Cotton Plants and Management of Aphis gossypii Infestations

Abstract

Cotton serves as the primary source of renewable fiber worldwide, primarily utilized in textile manufacturing. However, the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, represents a significant risk to cotton cultivation. This study investigated the jasmonic acid (JA) effects at 0.25 mg/L on promoting cotton plant growth, enhancing productivity, and mitigating aphid populations. The findings indicated that JA treatment positively impacted important growth parameters i.e. plant height, leaf area, fruiting branches number/plant, plant dry weight and chlorophyll pigments (Chl a, b, total) content, antioxidant enzymes activity (CAT and POD) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) as well as leaf total phenols content. Moreover, JA led to increased seed cotton yield, average boll weight, lint%, and improved fiber quality i.e. fiber length, strength, micronaire value. Both JA (0.25 mg/L) and acetamiprid (at 0.25 g/L) significantly lowered aphid populations. Ten days after application, acetamiprid resulted in the most significant reductions in aphid populations, with a 99.73% decrease in 2021 and a 99.34% decrease in 2022. Jasmonic acid also contributed to reductions of 81.28 and 76.56% in aphid populations ten days after treatment in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Therefore, JA can be effectively used at a concentration of 0.25 mg to promote cotton growth and yield while reducing aphid population density in an eco-friendly manner.