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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151095
Title: STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANT COTTON GERMPLASM

Author
item MAY, O - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Davis, Richard
item CHEE, P - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item MCGRIFF, D - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2003
Publication Date: 8/30/2003
Citation: May, O.L., Davis, R.F., Chee, P.W., McGriff, D.E. 2003. Strategies to develop and deploy root-knot nematode resistant cotton germplasm [abstract]. [CD-ROM]. COL-May 982222-poster. Agronomy Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cotton yield losses from root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) have increased due to large increases in hectarage and lack of economically viable crop rotation options. Effective nematicides are available to control nematodes, but they are generally not desirable because cotton production costs are already high. Genetic resistance to root-knot nematode is an attractive solution, but available resistant germplasm is agronomically obsolete. Our objective was to transfer genes from root-knot resistant donors otherwise agronomically obsolete to elite University of Georgia breeding lines. A backcross introgression approach in a greenhouse was employed where each cross was preceded by inoculation with root-knot nematodes. Eight weeks after inoculation, soil was washed from the roots of each plant and stain was applied to highlight root-knot egg masses. Relative egg mass density was compared with susceptible controls and the plants with the fewest egg masses were re-potted and raised to maturity for use in the next cross. Breeding progress was monitored each generation during backcrossing by destructively sampling a few plants, counting eggs, and comparing plants with resistant and susceptible controls. Root-knot nematode reproduction was reduced 90% in the BC1F1 generation compared with the susceptible control. In 2004, BC3F2 generation selections will be greenhouse and field-tested to verify root-knot nematode resistance.