Tennessee Technological University

The U.s. Upland Cotton Production Has Shifted to Crop Management Systems Based on Genetically Engineered (GE) Cultivars Since the 2000S. It Has Been Faced With Many Challenges, Including the Decrease in Planting Area, High Percentage Crop Failure, High Technology Fees, and Damaging Secondary Insects and Diseases. the Urgent Need From the Cotton Producer for Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability Has Called Solutions From Public Breeders Using Natural Genetic Variation. However, the Genetic Diversity Within Upland Cotton Is Very Low, and Exclusive Intraspecific Crossbreeding to Develop Ge Cotton Has Limited the Genetic Gain in Breeding. This Proposal Is Based on Our More Than 30 Years of Extra-large Population- Based Extensive Efforts in Introgression Breeding Between Upland and Pima Cotton. the Goal Is to Bring Our Introgression Breeding to Fruition in Developing Super Green Cotton (SGC) Cultivars With Novel Natural Genetic Sources and Breakthroughs for High-yielding, Excellent Fiber Quality, and Resistance/tolerance to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses. SGC Is Cotton With the Above Desirable Traits Developed From Utilization of Natural Genetic Variation for Green Agriculture Using Less Chemicals and Water. We Will Publicly Release 1-2 Transgressive Upland Cotton Cultivars With High Lint Yield, High Levels of Drought Tolerance, and Resistance to Seedling Damping-off. We Will Also Publicly Release 1-2 Upland Cotton Cultivars With Long, Strong and Fine Fibers, and Resistance to Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt Race 4, Spider Mites, and Thrips Transferred From Pima Cotton.