Scientists Study Wild Cotton for Useful Traits

Scientists at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension are looking into the potential of undiscovered useful traits in the gene pool or germplasm of obsolete and wild cottons contained in U.S., Russian and French cotton collections. These traits could help diversify the gene pool from which breeders develop future varieties that have useful traits such as insect and disease resistance, and drought, salt and cold tolerance.

Cotton genetic diversity has narrowed in recent years with many commercial varieties sharing common parents and ancestors, said Dr. John Gannaway, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station cotton breeder. Present varieties are genetically flexible enough to handle minor changes but lack diversity for significant changes.

Read the full press release at http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/SOIL/May0207a.htm. An overview of the Texas A&M University System's cotton breeding program is available online at http://lubbock.tamu.edu/news/2007/LScapesWinter06.pdf.