Progress 10/01/04 to 05/24/05
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Cotton production currently uses large amounts of water, synthetic chemicals and additional physical inputs that reduce profitability. It is also perceived that current efforts in breeding have led to a plateau in cotton quality and yield. The Western Integrated Cropping Systems Research Unit is enhancing cotton germplasm and discovering materials and methods for producing cotton with environmentally and socially acceptable methods. Movement of cotton pests among the multiple crops of California makes controlling these insects difficult. Studies to determine movement within the crop landscape will help predict when insects may become problematic. Introduction of new biological control agents of cotton insect pests and development of microbial pesticides will reduce dependence on chemicals. A new,
virulent race of Fusarium is threatening the cotton crop in California. Studies are conducted to reduce the impact of the disease and to determine methods to halt its spread. The development and application of molecular markers combined with traditional genetics will help to identify, map, and follow traits that can be used in elite cotton germplasm to enhance cotton yield and quality or impart fungal and insect pest resistance. Research on new biological controls of insects and methods to combat plant pathogens contribute to NP 304 Development of New and Improved Pest Control Technologies. Determination of insect movement patterns contributes to NP 304 Integrated Pest Management and Pest Control Technologies. The cotton germplasm enhancement research contributes to NP 301 component Genomic Characterization and Genetic Improvement. These issues are important to producers, other scientists, and, ultimately, the consumer. As urbanization encroaches on prime farmland, Food Quality
Protection Act (FQPA) activities affect farm chemical use, and emerging concerns over the effect of farming practices on air quality, it is possible current practices will be regulated out of existence. At the present time, few alternatives exist for pest control and other conventional farming practices. If chemical controls for aphid and other pests are reduced, sticky cotton issues will become more important. The development of alternative management options that arise from research in germplasm enhancement, insect control and disease management will assist the cotton industry to more effectively compete in a global market. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. The project was terminated in May 2005. Please refer to Annual report for CRIS 5303-21220-003-00D Integrated Management of Pests Affecting Cotton: Plant Genetics, Biocontrol and Novel Methods of Pest Estimation for the new project milestones. 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be
addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Complete identification of molecular markers for B. bassiana isolates. Milestone Fully Met 2. Conduct additional field tests of B. bassiana. Milestone Fully Met 3. Complete mark recapture experiments for determination of Lygus abundance and movement. Milestone Fully Met 4. Staff and develop a new plant pathology lab. Milestone Not Met Critical SY Vacancy 5. Develop methods for detection of Fusarium races. Milestone Substantially Met 6. Initiate Fusarium epidemiology studies. Milestone Not Met Critical SY Vacancy 7. Collect germplasm in preparation for host plant resistance studies. Milestone Fully Met 8. Identification of SSR markers for genetic diversity studies and mapping will continue. Milestone Substantially Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by
year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? The project was terminated in May 2005. Please refer to Annual report for CRIS 5303-21220-003-00D Integrated Management of Pests Affecting Cotton: Plant Genetics, Biocontrol and Novel Methods of Pest Estimation for milestones over the next three years. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? NEW METHODS TO DETECT INFECTED INSECTS DEVELOPED. Lygus spp are economically important insects of many crops, yet no specific pesticides are available to control Lygus. Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring fungus that infects and kills Lygus and many isolates are present in the environment. Molecular markers were adapted by geneticists and entomologists in the Western Integrated Cropping Systems Research Unit, Shafter, CA to identify specific isolates of B. bassiana used for field testing. B. bassiana isolated from a commercial company, Mississippi and California and sprayed onto alfalfa infected a high
proportion of Lygus. The markers were then used to determine which isolate infected each individual thus, for the first time, a tool is now available to determine the impact of local and non local isolates of B. bassiana on insect populations. 4b List other significant accomplishments, if any. NEW SPECIES OF COTTON DISCOVERED. A new species of Gossypium, surviving remnants of an endangered species and additional wild germplasm were discovered and preserved during an exploration to Mexico which is one of the primary centers of diversity of cotton. The newly discovered germplasm provides unique sources of genetic diversity for eventual incorporation into cotton varieties that are perceived to have very narrow genetic diversity thus putting the crop at risk to new environmental or pest challenges. This and previous explorations conducted through a specific cooperative agreement with INIFAP and university partners led to the creation of a new germplasm nursery in Mexico for the
preservation and study of the germplasm. Novel traits may be discovered from the new germplasm that could be used to broaden the genetic diversity of modern cotton varieties. NEW COTTON GENETIC MARKERS DISCOVERED. A new set of molecular markers known as microsatellites and/or SSRs were developed from fiber genes (EST) and cotton DNA inserted in a bacteria artificial chromosome (BAC-end). Cotton genomics is in its infancy in that despite ongoing efforts by the cotton community, a high density molecular map to facilitate marker- assisted breeding in the public domain is still lacking. In collaboration with U.C. Davis, Clemson Univ, and financial support from Cotton Inc, we tested a total of 1,232 EST-derived microsatellites (MUSS) and (MUCS) markers, which 1,019 (83%) of the DNA markers successfully amplified PCR products from a survey panel of six Gossypium species, of which 202 (19. 8%) were polymorphic between Upland and Pima cottons. In addition, from a total of 800 BAC-derived MUSB
markers, 666 (83%) of the DNA markers successfully amplified PCR products from a survey panel of three Gossypium species, of which 134 (17.0%) were polymorphic between Acala/Upland and Pima cottons sing electrophoretic separation on an agarose gel system. These markers will be useful for mapping in a variety of populations and as a tool for marker-assisted breeding. NEW TEST TO DETECT COTTON PATHOGEN DEVELOPED. A biochemical genetic test was developed that can rapidly determine the identity of Race 4 Fusarium oxysporum vasinfectum (FOV) from other naturally occurring races. Race 4 FOV was recently discovered in California, is particularly devastating, and previous efforts to determine Race identity were laborious and time consuming. The test, developed through University of California collaborators through a SCA, is based on PCR technology that recognizes unique sequences in the genetic structure of Race 4. The test will be used in the future to rapidly determine the presence (or
absence) of Race 4 in plant tissues and soil which will allow more rapid response to new outbreaks of the disease and help to reduce spread and impact of the pathogen. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Application of crop chemicals is typically done on a field-wide basis thus treating the entire field with the same amount of chemical. An airplane-mounted multi camera device was developed that allows determination of within field variability and development of a prescription application map that can be used by a variable rate applicator. In collaboration with NASA, university scientists, a private company and a cotton grower, a plant growth regulator, commonly used in cotton was applied using ARS developed technology, thus reducing the amount of chemical applied to the field without loss of efficacy. This technology is now being widely adopted in the San Joaquin Valley and, fertilizers, defoliants and other
chemicals are applied only to areas of the field that need treatment. Lygus spp are economically important insects of many crops, yet no specific pesticides are available to control Lygus. In collaboration with J. Leland, ARS Stoneville, MS and S. Jaronski, ARS Sidney, MT we isolated, laboratory tested, mass produced, and field tested two naturally occurring and one commercial isolate of Beauveria bassiana, a fungus that is selective for Lygus. The field tests suggested that local isolates of B. bassiana are more suited for use as a specific microbial pesticide against Lygus than the commercial isolate. Selected isolates will continue to be field tested and made available to commercial partners for development and marketing a new approach to Lygus control. Cotton aphids are major pests of cotton and cause direct losses to the plant physiologically or, when they occur late in the growing season, deposit honeydew on exposed lint that can cause a condition known as sticky cotton. No
parasites are known to significantly impact cotton aphid populations in the hot summer months so a new parasite was introduced into cotton aphid populations in California in collaboration with California Department of Food and Agriculture personnel. In FY2003 and FY2004, the parasite was found in the field suggesting the parasite could over winter in California. This new, now established parasite could play an important role in the natural population control of cotton aphid thus reducing pesticide use. Modern commercial cotton varieties are perceived to have a very narrow genetic base, yet companies are reluctant to incorporate genes from exotic germplasm sources because of the difficulty of crossing different parental lines. Exotic germplasm from Mexico was collected and other germplasm (Acala, Upland, and Pima) was acquired from various culture collections. Plants from different areas revealed large differences in leaf and plant structure and there is some evidence to suggest
improved agronomic and fiber characteristics and resistance to insects. The impact of this work is the availability of publicly held germplasm for free exchange and continuing long term success in cotton improvement. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Through annual field days and other grower meetings, scientific results and progress are reported via verbal presentations and brief non technical summaries. These included reports on Lygus biocontrol and population dynamics, new aphid parasites and cotton germplasm enhancement. We anticipate in the next few years, making available to private companies isolates of Beauveria bassiana and important germplasm traits. The adoption of the technologies is dependent on suitable efficacy and
production requirements.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Ulloa, M., Saha, S., Jenkins, J.N., Meredith, Jr., W.R., McCarty, Jr., J.C. , Stelly, D.M. 2005. Chromosomal assignment of RFLP linkage groups harboring important QTLs on an intraspecific cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) joinmap. Journal of Heredity. 96(2):1-13.
- Frelichowski, J.E., Ulloa, M., Tomkins, J.P., Palmer, M., Main, D., Stelly, D., Cantrell, R.G. 2004. New bac-end derived microsatellite markers in cotton (gossypium hirsutum l.) acala 'maxxa'.. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. p. 5613.
- Frelichowski, J.E., Ulloa, M., Palmer, M., Main, D., Tomkins, J.P., Stelly, D., Cantrell, R.G., Kohel, R.J., Yu, J. 2005. Genetic, physical and qtl mapping assessments of bac-end derived microsatellite markers developed from cotton (gossypium hirsutum l.) acala 'maxxa'.. Plant and Animal Genome Conference Proceedings. p. 225.
- Frelichowski, J.E., Ulloa, M. 2005. Germplasm evaluation of cotton accessions from the u.s. cotton germplasm collection, usda-ars (landraces of mexico).. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. pp. 1020- 1024.
- Park, Y.H., Ulloa, M., Alabady, M.S., Frelichowski, J.E., Wilkins, T.A., Stelly, D.M., Cantrell, R.G. 2005. Est-derived microsatellite markers as a source for mapping fiber quality qtl in cotton (gossypium spp.). Plant and Animal Genome Conference Proceedings. p. 110.
- Mcguire, M.R., Ulloa, M., Park, Y.H., Hudson, N.D. 2005. Biological and molecular characteristics of beauveria bassiana isolates from california lygus hesperus (hemiptera:miridae) populations.. Biological Control. Vol. 33/3, pp 307-314.
- Ulloa, M., Hutmacher, R., Davis, M., Percy, R.G., Mcguire, M.R., Marsh, B. 2005. Breeding for fusarium wilt (fov) race 4 resistance in cotton.. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 901.
- Ulloa, M., Park, Y.H., Alabady, M.S., Stewart, J.M., Wilkins, T. 2004. Orgins of allelic diversity and genic regions revealed by microsatellite est markers in cotton.. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. p. 5869.
- Stewart, J.M., Ulloa, M., Garcia-C., A.E., Godoy-A., S., Soto, J.C. 2004. The gossypium of mexico: observations from recent collections expeditions.. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 1044.
- Hutmacher, B., Davis, M.R., Ulloa, M., Wright, S., Munk, D.S., Vargas, R.N. , Roberts, B.A., Marsh, B.H., Keeley, M.P., Kim, Y., Percy, R.G. 2005. Fusarium in acala and pima cotton: symptoms and disease development.. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. pp. 245-246.
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