Development and application of a novel eco-friendly seed coating agent (DIF) for controlling cotton Fusarium wilt and...

Cotton Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Atk.), severely impairs cotton yield and quality. This study developed a novel eco-friendly seed coating agent (DIF) to replace toxic conventional formulations, with Difenoconazole as the core active ingredient. Laboratory and field trials (2024, Anhui) evaluated DIF's effects on seed germination, seedling growth, Fusarium wilt control and cotton fibre quality, with carboxin-thiram (CT) as the positive control and uncoated seeds as blank control (CK). The 1:100 (agent: seed) DIF was optimal, boosting seedling root length (13.96 cm) and biomass, and achieving a 98.67% field control efficiency against Fusarium wilt. DIF improved seed yield and lint yield vs. CK (P > 0.05) and had no adverse effects on key fibre quality parameters. This eco-friendly DIF has great potential for cotton Fusarium wilt management with economic and environmental benefits.