Location: Plant Physiology and Genetics Research
Project Number: 2020-21000-014-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2025
End Date: Jul 31, 2026
Objective:
The overall goal of the project is to phenotype cotton and identify genotypes that differ in their response to reduced soil moisture.
Approach:
The Cooperator and ARS PI will collaborate on research activities to characterize physiological phenotypes in cotton genotypes grown under varying irrigation treatments at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. A field trial will be conducted using four irrigation regimes—100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of the recommended weekly irrigation—applied to 10 commercial varieties based on an established irrigation model. Key physiological traits will be assessed to identify those most responsive to water deficit, providing targets for trait-focused sampling in expanded field studies.Additionally, a panel of 140 cotton landraces and wild accessions is being cultivated for inclusion in larger-scale trials. Physiological data collected from these genotypes will help identify trait variation across diverse genetic backgrounds. All trials will be harvested to quantify lint and seed yields. Correlative analyses will be conducted to link physiological traits with yield outcomes, helping to pinpoint traits associated with cotton productivity.