Variety Improvement

Financial support of basic and applied research continues with our overall aim to improve lint yield, fiber quality, and stress tolerance. Sequencing and annotation of the diploid A and D progenitor genomes is progressing rapidly. A press announcement on the D genome sequence was made during the 2012 Beltwide Conference. Information gleaned from these efforts will significantly help scientists sequence and annotate upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, the tetraploid AD genome. These efforts will identify genes and associated linked markers controlling agronomically important traits.

We continue to support phenotypic improvement programs across the Cotton Belt. Among the scientists we support, some concentrate on germplasm enhancement to improve yield and fiber characteristics while others develop elite varieties for commercial sale. A concerted effort initiated in 2008 aims to produce breeder seed for conventional varieties which are competitive with commercial checks for yield and superior for fiber quality. The first variety commercialized under this program was UA48 from the University of Arkansas. It has exceptional fiber quality exhibited in multi-year yarn spinning trials.