Project Number: 6406-21000-012-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Apr 14, 2008
End Date: Apr 13, 2013

Objective:
Develop and evaluate cotton breeding populations with new combinations of alleles useful for cultivar improvement. Apply molecular marker technologies to identify and characterize genetic variation in cotton germplasm lines. Identify and characterize molecular determinants for nematode infection of cotton and apply knowledge to accelerating breeding programs. Apply or modify genetic analyses which accelerate the identification and incorporation of novel sources of superior agronomic traits for breeding cotton.

Approach:
Alleles from mostly photoperiodic, exotic accessions will be incorporated into breeding populations. Chromosome substitution and reombinant inbred lines will be developed, breeding populations useful for nematode resistance will be generated, and the evaluation of germplasm lines for resistance to nematodes and improved fiber quality will be conducted. Use molecular marker technologies to identify and characterize genetic variation for host plant resistance to root-knot nematode and reniform nematode, and improved agronomic and fiber quality. Resistance responses to root-knot and reniform infection will be characterized. The functional relevance of the MIC3 gene to nematode resistance will be determined, and a functional genetics platform for the reniform nematode to identify potential target genes for RNA-inference will be developed. Use linkage disequilibrium and association mapping to identify novel sources of superior agronomic, pest resistance, and fiber traits.