Location: Crop Germplasm Research
Project Number: 3091-21000-048-007-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2023
End Date: Jul 31, 2025
Objective:
The objective of this agreement is to increase of essential cotton germplasm by the counter season nursery maintained by the cooperator in Liberia, Costa Rica. Essential cotton germplasm includes accessions from the National Cotton Germplasm Collection and breeding lines of USDA scientists. Seed from the Collection will be increased to levels that will facilitate distribution of cotton seed for research and breeding efforts. Seed from breeding lines will be increased to advance generations (reduce heterozygosity) and to provide seed for the subsequent U.S. growing season. Both of these efforts utilize the diversity of cotton genetic resources for basic and applied research to improve cotton.
Approach:
Seed of the National Cotton Germplasm Collection and other sources will be increased and renewed in a counter season nursery developed and managed by Cotton Incorporated. Roguing of genetic materials and forced self-pollination ("selfing") will be performed to maintain purity during seed renewal and generational advancement. Self pollination will be enforced by bagging flowers before they open to prevent pollinators from pollinating cotton flowers. Creation of hybrids for population development will occur when appropriate. Materials increased or created by crossing will be ginned at the nursery, fumigated, and shipped to users.
