ARS | Publication request: Trends in cotton variety development: Technology in the seed

Submitted to: Engineered Fiber Selection Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 7, 2007
Publication Date: June 7, 2007
Citation: Campbell, B.T. 2007. Trends in cotton variety development: Technology in the seed. In: Proceedings of the Cotton Engineered Fiber Selection Systems Conference, June 4-5, 2007, Greenville, South Carolina. 2007 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Cotton breeding and variety development are an integral part of the cotton improvement research team. The genetics of a particular cotton variety provide a baseline for the variety’s lint yield and fiber quality potential. Over the last 100 years, the cotton industry has benefited from research focused on cotton germplasm and variety development. Prior to the commercialization of transgenic cotton products in the mid 1990s, steady gains in lint yield and fiber strength potential were realized using conventional plant breeding and forward crossing in both private and public research sectors. The years following the commercialization of transgenic seed varieties initiated the heavy use of back cross breeding methods to develop new varieties primarily by private industry. Public sector research began focusing on germplasm development and enhancement. The first generation of transgenic seed varieties revolutionized the management and production of our cotton crop, while also reducing pesticide applications and encouraging conservation tillage practices. The second generation of transgenic seed varieties primarily improves upon the transgenic products first introduced in the 1990s. The future of cotton variety development is discussed. Specific examples of short-term and long-term products developed by private and public research sectors are provided.