Comparative Effects of ThryvOn Trait and Imidacloprid Seed Treatment on Thrips Injury and Lint Yield in Cotton

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman and western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande are predominant thrips species infesting seedling cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in the Texas High Plains. Thrips feeding on leaf tissue can slow plant growth, disrupt apical dominance, delay fruit development, and reduce lint yield. Thrips management in cotton has traditionally relied on imidacloprid seed treatment, whereas ThryvOn is a transgenic trait that provides protection by suppressing thrips feeding and oviposition. This study evaluated the efficacy of ThryvOn against thrips and assessed the relative benefits of imidacloprid seed treatment in ThryvOn and non-ThryvOn cotton. Field study was conducted during the 2023 and 2025 growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with four treatments and five replications. Treatments included untreated and imidacloprid-treated ThryvOn and non-ThryvOn cotton. Data on thrips injury, thrips density, and lint yield were collected. ThryvOn cotton exhibited significantly lower thrips injury and reduced thrips densities compared with non-ThryvOn cotton across both years. Imidacloprid seed treatment significantly reduced thrips injury in non-ThryvOn cotton; however, no significant difference in thrips injury was observed between treated and untreated ThryvOn plots. Lint yield was not significantly affected by ThryvOn trait, whereas imidacloprid seed treatment resulted in a significant increase in lint yield in one of the two years.