History and current research in the USDA-ARS cotton breeding program at Stoneville, MS

Authors: Zeng, Linghe; Stetina, Salliana - Sally; Erpelding, John; Bechere, Efrem; Turley, Rickie; Scheffler, Jodi

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2017
Publication Date: 6/1/2018
Citation: Zeng, L., Stetina, S.R., Erpelding, J.E., Bechere, E., Turley, R.B., Scheffler, J.A. 2018. History and current research in the USDA-ARS cotton breeding program at Stoneville, MS. Journal of Cotton Science. 22:24-35.

Interpretive Summary: It has been more than 50 years since the USDA-ARS cotton breeding program was initiated at Stoneville, MS in the middle of last century. The mission of this program was established to promote profits for cotton growers and improve cotton production in the U.S. In early times, earliness was a top priority in cotton breeding in order to escape boll weevils and improvement of fiber quality was a less important breeding target. In recent years, many regions have claimed an eradication of boll weevils. Meanwhile, the US cotton industry has changed from a domestic consumer industry to a major exporter of cotton raw fibers. The need for high quality fibers has increased dramatically due to the higher requirement for fiber quality in the global market. Breeding priorities have changed and emphasized both high yield and high fiber quality in the development of cotton cultivars. With global climate changes, cotton breeders are facing more challenges than before and the continued improvement of cotton cultivars for lint yield and fiber quality depends on integration of multiples scientific disciplines with breeding. The research activities of the cotton breeding program in the USDA-ARS at Stoneville have reflected these changes of needs in the history.

Technical Abstract: It has been more than 50 years since the USDA-ARS cotton breeding program was initiated at Stoneville, MS in the middle of last century. The mission of this program was established to promote profits for cotton growers and improve cotton production in the U.S. In early times, earliness was a top priority in cotton breeding in order to escape boll weevils and improvement of fiber quality was a less important breeding target. In recent years, many regions have claimed an eradication of boll weevils. Meanwhile, the US cotton industry has changed from a domestic consumer industry to a major exporter of cotton raw fibers. The need for high quality fibers has increased dramatically due to the higher requirement for fiber quality in the global market. Breeding priorities have changed and emphasized both high yield and high fiber quality in the development of cotton cultivars. With global climate changes, cotton breeders are facing more challenges than before and the continued improvement of cotton cultivars for lint yield and fiber quality depends on integration of multiples scientific disciplines with breeding. The research activities of the cotton breeding program in the USDA-ARS at Stoneville have reflected these changes of needs in the history.