2006 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? A portion of this research is aligned with National Program 305 and addresses the goals of the Integrated Production Systems component of the Program. Specifically, our research contributes to the Sustainable Crop Systems goal of increasing crop productivity and quality in production systems in a sustainable manner. We are also conducting plant genetics research under National Program 301 and addressing the goals of the Genome Characterization and Genetic Improvement component of the Program. Cotton farming practices need to be improved because of increased competition from synthetic fibers and changes in textile manufacture. Currently available cotton cultivars and production systems do not provide sufficiently high fiber yields for consistent economically viable production nor do they possess the fiber properties needed by yarn and textile manufacturers to fully exploit new processing technology. In the southeastern USA, most of the cotton is produced on highly weathered soils that have low water-holding capacity and low fertility. There is a critical need for the development of systems that increase the productivity of these soils in an environment-friendly manner. Practices such as conservation tillage and cover crops are potential tools to achieve this. In addition, poultry production is a large industry in the region and litter from these facilities is a potential source of organic matter and nutrients for these soils. Improved technologies and strategies are needed for optimizing litter application in cotton production systems while avoiding excess nutrient losses to surrounding environments. To address these problems, we are conducting research to determine factors that limit cotton yield and fiber quality in conservation systems and developing and evaluating germplasm for improved cropping practices for those systems. We are combining traditional, field oriented plant breeding methods with a laboratory based biotechnology approach focused on characterizing germplasm at the molecular level and to genetically map genes of interest in the cotton genome. Low profitability threatens the entire cotton industry. Increased yields are needed by growers to offset rising production costs and low prices. Fiber properties such as fiber strength and length must be improved to fully exploit new, more efficient yarn and textile manufacturing technologies and meet the quality requirements for export. Improved cropping systems technology is needed to improve the yield, quality, and profitability of the crop. Higher yield and more environment-friendly growing practices will benefit all segments of the cotton industry and the consumer. 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) Year 1 (FY2005) 1. Conduct greenhouse studies to determine phosphorous availability from soil-amended chicken litter and products derived from chicken litter. 2. Initiate field experiments to assess the feasibility of using Crotolaria juncea as a summer cover crop in rotations with cotton. 3. Initiate field experiments to determine how patterns of soil water use by cotton grown with conservation tillage influence within-canopy yield and fiber properties. 4. Contribute to the National Cotton Variety Test Program by evaluating cultivars in the Eastern Regional High Quality Cotton Variety Trial at Florence. Year 2 (FY2006) 1. Summarize greenhouse studies on P availability. 2. Using information gained in the greenhouse trials, initiate field studies on phosphorous availability, phosphorous runoff potential, and soil chemical properties from soil-amended chicken litter and products derived from chicken litter in cotton production with conservation tillage. 3. Continue field evaluations of summer legume. 4. Continue field evaluations of cotton water use and within-canopy yield and fiber quality distribution. 5. Conduct Eastern Regional High Quality Cotton Variety Trial. Year 3 (FY2007) 1. Conduct second year of phosphorous field experiments. 2, Finish field studies on the potential of using a summer legume as an N source for cotton. 3. Finish field evaluation of cotton water use relationships with within-canopy yield and fiber quality distribution. 4. Conduct Eastern Regional High Quality Cotton Variety Trial. Year 4 (FY2008) 1. Conduct third year of phosphorous field experiments. 2. Manuscript prepared on summer legume research. 3. Manuscript prepared on how soil water availability affects cotton yield and quality distribution. 4. Conduct Eastern Regional High Quality Cotton Variety Trial. Year 5 (FY2009) 1. Provide an assessment on crop and soil responses assessing the fertilizer value of products derived from poultry litter and the environmental fate of the P in these materials when applied to cotton. 2. Conduct Eastern Regional High Quality Cotton Variety Trial. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Cotton mill processing performance is not reduced by light stink bug infestations. The research contributes to the goal of increasing crop productivity and quality in production systems in a sustainable manner under the Sustainable Cropping Systems component of National Program 305. Mill processing quality of cotton grown in the southeast needs to be improved for the region to remain competitive in world markets. Stink bugs, an important pest of cotton in the region since the introduction of transgenic cultivars in the mid-1990s, damage growing cotton bolls by piercing the boll wall and feeding on the seeds and juices within the bolls. Working with the USDA-ARS Cotton Quality Research Station in Clemson, SC, and with Clemson University, we conducted this research to determine whether stink bug damage reduces cotton textile mill performance. We found that mill processing performance and yarn and fabric quality were not reduced by light infestations of this pest. This information is important to the cotton industry in the region because it indicates growers do not need to make additional insecticide applications to control this pest for maintaining quality above those needed to prevent yield loss. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. Identifying the proper testing locations for cotton germplasm evaluation in the southeastern USA. The research contributes to the goal of increasing crop productivity and quality in production systems in a sustainable manner under the Sustainable Cropping Systems component of National Program 305. Cotton growers depend on information from university extension cultivar testing programs to make informed decisions regarding cultivar selection. To provide this information to cotton growers most effectively, university extension programs need to know what regions of the state should serve as testing locations to target all cotton production areas. Working with Clemson University, we conducted this research to determine the proper testing locations within South Carolina. This research found that cultivar testing for yield is more location-specific than testing for fiber properties. These findings will help university extension and research programs to better select cultivar testing locations that will provide the greatest amount of relevant information to the cotton growers, while also maximizing time and resources. 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None 4d.Progress report. 1) Field Evaluation of Pee Dee Cotton Germplasm and Varieties for Agronomic Performance and Fiber Quality in Multi-location Field Trials This report serves to document research conducted under a non-funded cooperative agreement (6657-21000-005-02N) between ARS and Delta and Pine Land Company. The conclusion of the growing season in 2005 served as the final year of a project with the objective to evaluate released Pee Dee germplasm and varieties and remaining Pee Dee breeding lines for agronomic performance and fiber quality in multi-location field trials. Eighty-two released germplasm lines and varieties are currently being evaluated through this project in replicated field trials as part of a larger study to evaluate the stability of Pee Dee line performance across several growing environments in the southeast US. Additionally, thirty advanced, non-released breeding lines are currently being evaluated through this project in replicated field trials for possible germplasm release. One outcome of this project will help to identify germplasm lines within the Pee Dee program that display stability for agronomic performance and fiber quality across southeast US growing environments. An additional outcome of this project will lead to the development and release of improved germplasm lines with enhanced agronomic performance and fiber quality characteristics. 2) Genetic Diversity of Pee Dee Germplasm This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable cooperative agreement (6657-21000-005-03R) between ARS and Cotton Incorporated. The objective of this project is to evaluate the level of DNA based genetic diversity present in the Pee Dee germplasm. Eighty-two germplasm lines and varieties officially released over the life of the Pee Dee cotton genetics program are being used to represent the Pee Dee germplasm resource. An assessment of DNA based genetic diversity is being made by comparing the molecular marker profiles of each of the 82 lines. Genetic similarity will be calculated among lines based on marker banding patterns. A dendogram will also be constructed to visually represent the diversity present among the 82 lines. Results from this study will provide enhanced knowledge of the DNA based genetic diversity present within the Pee Dee germplasm resource. Knowledge of genetic diversity within the Pee Dee germplasm will allow cotton breeders to better select specific Pee Dee lines for use in crosses designed for specific breeding objectives. 3) Investigating Host Plant Tolerance to Abiotic Stress in Cotton This report serves to document research that will be conducted under a non-funded cooperative agreement (6657-21000-005-04N) between ARS and Bayer Crop Science International. The objective of this cooperative research project will be to determine if host plant tolerance to hardlock is controlled by a genetic system consisting of one or a few genes or by a genetic system consisting of numerous genes that are inherited in a quantitative way. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. The research addresses the goals of the Sustainable Cropping Systems component of National Program 305. Improving cotton quality and reducing within-crop fiber property variability are important for improving productivity of domestic mills and increasing demand of US cotton in export markets. Our research demonstrated that both tillage management and soil type influence the distribution of fiber properties within the plant canopy. Also, the research demonstrated that the amount of variability within the cotton canopy for fiber properties differed among soil types, with lower variability on a more productive soil. This research provides information that scientists and farm advisors will use in designing production systems that provide improved cotton quality. The cotton genetics program was reestablished in 2004, and cotton genetics research is being conducted that will contribute to the Genetic Improvement of Crops component of National Program 301. Genetic improvement and germplasm enhancement of cotton are essential to sustain cotton production in the US. Our research is addressing these needs by developing enhanced germplasm lines of cotton, studying the DNA based genetic diversity of the historically important Pee Dee germplasm collection, and studying the genetic basis of tolerance to drought and other abiotic stresses. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? ARS Florence hosted its annual Customer/Partner Dialogue Workshop on November 16, 2005, where research results on cotton production systems and the cotton genetics program were discussed with producers, industry representatives, action agency representatives, and scientists. Hosted the Cotton Incorporated sponsored Cotton Breeders Tour of southeast genetics programs when they visited Florence in September 2005. Hosted participants in the International Cotton Advisory Committee Research Associate Program in April 2006. Discussed the cotton genetics program with approximately 50 growers, industry, and research and extension specialists at the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center Field day in September 2005. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Better Quality Top Cotton Breeder Goal, article in Southwest Farm Press, October 6, 2005. Presented the overall goals of the cotton genetics program and specific experiments on cotton cultivar responses to supplemental irrigation at the Cotton Breeders Tour of southeast genetics programs, September 2005, Florence, SC. Presented research on quantifying soil water use by crops in conservation tillage systems and the impact of soil water status on the distribution of fiber quality throughout the canopy at the Cotton Breeders Tour of southeast genetics programs, September 2005, Florence, SC. Presented the goals of the cotton germplasm enhancement program and molecular marker research to participants in the International Cotton Advisory Committee Research Associate Program, April 2006, Florence, SC. Presented research results on conservation tillage and soil improvement practices in cotton production to participants in the International Cotton Advisory Committee Research Associate Program, April 2006, Florence, SC. Presented cotton genetics research results at the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center Field Day, September 2005, Blackville, SC. Review Publications Campbell, B.T., Jones, M.A. 2005. Assessment of genotype environment interactions for yield and fiber quality in cotton performance trials. Euphytica. 144(1-2):69-78. Locke, M.A., Zablotowicz, R.M., Bauer, P.J., Steinriede Jr, R.W., Gaston, L.A. 2005. Conservation cotton production in the southern USA: Herbicide dissipation in soil and cover crops. Weed Science. 53:717-727. Dilbirligi, M., Erayman, M., Campbell, B.T., Randhawa, H.S., Baenziger, P.S., Dweikat, I., Gill, K.S. 2006. High-density mapping and comparative analysis of agronomically important traits on wheat chromosome 3A. Genomics 88:74-87. Baenziger, P.S., Russell, W.K., Graef, G.L., Campbell, B.T. 2005. Improving lives: 50 years of crop breeding, genetics, and cytology [abstract]. ASA Abstracts. CDROM. Bauer, P.J., Mcalister III, D.D., Roof, M.E. 2006. Textile performance of conventional and transgenic cotton with and without stink bug control [abstract]. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 1855. Bauer, P.J., Frederick, J.R., Novak, J.M., Busscher, W.J., Robinson, S. 2006. Crop response in a six-year split-field comparison of conventional and conservation technologies [abstract]. Southern Conservation Systems Conference Proceedings. p. 122. Campbell, B.T. 2006. Field performance of the Pee Dee cotton germplasm collection [abstract]. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 759. Campbell, B.T., Bauer, P.J. 2005. Initial assessment of the effect of supplemental irrigation on the agronomic and fiber quality performance of a subset of Pee Dee cotton germplasm lines [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. CDROM.