Project Number: 6402-21310-003-12
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 29, 2010
End Date: Sep 29, 2013

Objective:
Cultivated cotton is particularly susceptible to many different forms of pathogens including viruses and nematodes. Resistance to such pathogens can often be found in germplasm collections, especially those that represent uncultivated lines or related species. Unfortunately cotton seed has limited viability with an average storage time of 15 years. The ARS Cotton Germplasm Collection has limited amounts of these seed sources and many need to be regenerated before intensive screening can occur. To preserve this material and to provide enough seed for screening purposes, extensive seed increases are needed.

Approach:
ARS and its collaborators will transfer selected seed stocks to the Cotton Winter Nursery using established protocols that conform to necessary sanitary requirements. Staff at the Cotton Winter Nursery in Tecoman, Mexico, will plant the seeds and maintain the plants. Flowers from the plants will be selfed and the resulting seed will be processed and sent back to ARS collaborators following established sanitary requirements.