There are several important questions that have been raised about the black root rot pathogen, including: How can one detect black root rot? What makes it spread so fast? What makes it so hard to control?

The following industry take home messages are a summary of practical findings pertinent

to growers and industry personnel:

The results of annual disease surveys in both NSW and Queensland continue to provide useful data on the distribution, incidence and importance of diseases of cotton in Australia.

Black root rot (caused by Thielaviopsis basicola), is an important seedling pathogen in the cotton industry in Australia (Nehl et al. 2004).

In Australia, most cotton is sown from late September to early October, when cool conditions, favourable to black root rot, usually occur.