Most farms in the Southeast have them — acres that just don't keep up. You've got soil fertility right. You've got the seeding rate and plant growth regulator application right. But those acres never hit their potential.

Most of the time, the problem isn't your crop management. It's what's hiding in the soil. Root-knot nematodes (RKN) and reniform (REN) nematodes are invisible yield robbers.

A University of Georgia statewide survey of nearly 1,800 cotton fields found that 70% of Georgia cotton fields were infested with at least one potentially damaging plant-parasitic nematode.¹ 

And those high populations impact yield: In 2025, reniform and root-knot nematodes continued to be the leading cause of yield loss among all cotton pathogens in the United States. Together, these two species accounted for a combined loss of 786,273 bales — with Georgia and Alabama consistently among the hardest-hit states.² 

PhytoGen was the first to market with cottonseed varieties offering both RKN and REN resistance and now offers more of these varieties than any other cottonseed brand.

The proof is in the dirt. From 2019 to 2021, PhytoGen brand varieties with REN-resistance cut REN numbers by an average of 66% across 25 Southeast locations — and by nearly 90% in some fields. Cleaner fields, stronger yields — now that's a reason to plant PhytoGen.

Chris Hill, who farms with his family in Twiggs County, Georgia, has seen the yield gains PhytoGen^® brand varieties with REN resistance can deliver firsthand.  On his acres, PhytoGen^® brand PHY 411 W3FE yielded 1,600 lb/A for him — with no nematicide treatments. 

“That’s better than we could yield with the competitive varieties plus nematicides, and I saved $100 an acre on crop protection,” Hill said. “We’re making more money with PhytoGen. That’s the bottom line.” 

John Ruark, who also grows cotton in Georgia, had a similar experience after trying varieties from several brands. 

“The PhytoGen varieties with nematode resistance yielded 400 pounds better than everything else,” he said. “Since then, we’ve switched to PhytoGen varieties, and they have been proven leaders on our farm.”

Warm, humid conditions across the Southeast can create an ideal environment for bacterial blight. Left unchecked, the disease can reduce yields by up to 20% in heavily infested fields³ — and there's no in-season spray to stop it. Every PhytoGen^® W3FE variety includes built-in bacterial blight resistance, bringing you peace of mind and protecting your yield potential.

Early season vigor is a PhytoGen trademark, with varieties that establish stands quickly, canopy fast, and compete hard from emergence through cutout. In Georgia and Alabama, where cool soils, thrips, and disease pressure can challenge young cotton, a strong start matters.

"If somebody were to ask me why to grow PhytoGen cottonseed, I would first point to seeding vigor, the ability to get that stand the first time." Shep Morris Georgia Cotton Grower