History of USDA-ARS Cotton Host Plant Resistance and Breeding Research at Mississippi State, MS

Cotton host plant resistance research was initiated with the establishment of Boll Weevil Research Laboratory in 1960. objectives were to conduct and develop technology that ultimately could be used eradicate boll weevil. Early concentrated on developing techniques screening germplasm for resistance. A full-scale weevil eradication trial began southern Virginia eastern North Carolina 1978 after initial success USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service established an program. This led program broaden its into other pests cotton. During 1980s, continued focus tarnished bug, tobacco budworm, expanding genetic diversity cotton, basic cotton breeding studies. With development field infestation 1990s team conducted first test Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic this time, root-knot nematode expanded. fruiting efficiency distribution harvestable bolls concept mapping developed. 2000s, expanded use chromosome substitution lines introgression new alleles Upland Nematode remained active during time. To date, has developed released more than 800 four random-mating populations. Scientists have trained 60 graduate students countless others been mentored. The full impact will only revealed