• Genetic improvement with inbuilt resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses for quality cotton production
• Development of farmworthy cotton production technologies through effective resource management
• Quality nucleus and breeder seed production commensurate with seed replacement rates.
• To conduct farmers' participatory trials for promotion and awareness of the potential technology.
• Utilisation of cotton by-produce for the manufacture of value-added products.

Broad areas and sub areas :

1. Genetic improvement
   • Yield
   • Fibre quality parameters
   • Resistance to biotic & Abiotic stresses
   • Introgressed derivatives
   • Maintenance breeding and seed quality
   • Improvement in oil quality and quantity
2. Resource Management
   • Integrated Nutrient management (INM)
   • Water Management
   • Biofertilisers
   • Simulation Modelling
   • Mechanization in cotton cultivation
3. Biotic Stress Management
   • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
   • Diagnostic tools for detection of insects pests and pathogens
   • Bioagent mass production
4. Byproduct utilization
• Stalks
• Linters
• Seed Meal
5. Technology Assessment
   • Technology interventions
   • Informatics and documentation

Institute /Organisations involved
Nodal Agency : Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur

State Agricultural University (13)

1. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
2. CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
3. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Sriganganagar
4. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur
5. Navsari Agricultural University, Surat
6. Marathawada Agricultural University, Parbhani
7. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
8. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri
9. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur
10. Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Orissa
11. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur
12. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
13. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad

ICAR Institutes (11)

1. Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai
2. National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Nagpur
3. National Research Center for DNA Finger Printing, New Delhi
4. Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi
5. Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad
6. Central Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal
7. Indian Institute of Soil Sciences, Bhopal
8. National Center for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi
9. Project Directorate of Biological Control, Bangalore
10. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
11. Central Institute for Cotton Research (Nagpur, Coimbatore, Sirsa)

Other Organisations

1. Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai
2. National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad

Salient Achievements :

• A large number of genotypes have been evaluated and each year more than 2000 selections were made at various centres to create desirable variability to enhance genetic improvement of diploid cotton. The quality characters like fibre length have been evaluated from 20.0 mm to 31.6 mm, fibre strength from 18 g/tex to 26.1 g/tex, Micronaire from 5.5 to 3.5 and ginning outturn maximum upto 43.43% at par on even superior to varieties and hybrids of hirsutum cotton. The strain like PAIG-8/1,AH-65 and MDL-2582 having high yield potential, 2.5% span length ranging from 26.92 to 27.82 mm, fibre strength ranging from 22.12 to 22.62 g/tex, micronaire ranging from 4.88 to 4.93 and short fibre content ranging from 8.8 to 12% have been identified.
• On the basis of fibre traits suitable for high-speed spinning, the following strains have been entered for testing under AICCIP, JLA 2199, CINA 343, CINA 344, CINA 316, AH 1, AH 11, MDL 2463 and another six strains have been sponsored during 2005-06.
• On the basis of performance of 29 strains at 11 locations, two strains viz, CINA-316 (from Nagpur) and PA-402 (from Parbhani) have been proposed for release through AICCIP and PA-402 has already been released by MAU, Parbhani during 2003-04 with the name 'Vinayak'.

• Promising cultures with 22.0 to 24.0 g/tex fibre strength, 4.0 to 4.9 micronaire and up to 38 per cent ginning out turn have been identified in North Zone.
• A total of 60 genotypes with resistance to jassids have been identified at Faridkot (2), Hisar (7), Sirsa (24), Akola (15), Nanded (6) and CICR, Coimbatore (6). Similarly genotypes with low bollworm damage have been identified at Faridkot and Surat.
• As many as 109 lines were found to be resistant to CLCuV disease in North Zone. All the North Zone centres have identified resistant donors for use in their breeding programmes. Cultures F 2079 (3186 kg/ha), H 1324 (1806 kg/ha) and RS 992 (2327 kg/ha) combined high yield and CLCuV resistance.
• Seven G.hirsutum cultures from this project, viz. CSH 2572, NH 611, NH 615, NH 594, CCH 4, CCH 1386 and CCH 510 are already under AICCIP testing.
• Cultures CSH 2572 for North Zone, NH 611, NH 615 and CCH 4 for Central Zone and CCH 1386 and CCH 510 for South Zone with improved yield and fibre quality were found to be adaptable for their respective zones.

• Large number of pre breeding materials have been developed on which selections can be practised.
• Diversified the breeding materials at each center using the sources from different centers
• Most of the superior plants selected for specific character are in good agronomic background and sources for AICCIP
• Fibre strength of 30 g/tex has been achieved in G. arboreum and 50 g/tex in G. herbaceum lines.
• DLSA-17, first long-linted introgressed derivative from G. arboreum X G. hirsutum has been released for cultivation in Karnataka

  DLSA 17

• Seven introgressed materials from this project - DLSA 201, AKDH 31, AKDH 32, CCH 317, L 789, NDL 764 and Las 6 have been sponsored in AICCIP trial.

Cotton seed oil

• The culture CHNO12 with 21.77% oil and 1600 kg/ha seed cotton yield has been sponsored for AICCIP multilocation trial Br02 (a) in 2004-05 season and another culture CHNO3 with 26.68 % seed oil and seed cotton yield of 1395 kg/ha has been entered in Br02 (b) trial and both have been promoted to Br03 trials.

Maintenance breeding

• Morphological markers have been developed and documented to characterize male and female parents and hybrids and also varieties on the basis of easily identifiable characters like leaf/petal/stem colour, boll size, leaf nature, plant type/growth habit and some colorimetric observations.
• Cataloguing of genetic markers using molecular techniques like RAPD, ISSR and STMS have been attempted. Eleven cotton hybrids and their parents were analysed using RAPD and ISSR markers. The RAPD polymorphic primer OPA 13 and OPA 14 and ISSR polymorphic primer 152 led to the conformation of Shruthi as hybrid and hence can be used as a discriminating marker for testing of genetic purity of hybrid.
  

Natural Resource Management

Integrated Nutrient management

• In North zone, sulphur is the major limiting nutrient. Phosphorus status of the soil is quite low. Application of S @ 20kg/ha is recommended.
• In Central zone, response to combined application of Zn and B was observed at Banswara, Bhopal, Nagpur and Parbhani. For Zn deficiency, Zn @ 25 kg/ha as ZnSO4 once in 3 years may be applied.
• In South zone, Coimbatore soil shows very high P and K, and hence P & K included in the recommendation can be reduced because of the high indigenous soil supply, and this will reduce the cost of cultivation.
• Producers often recognize need for N. Recommendations of N at present yield levels is sufficient at most locations, except Surat
• Interestingly, ginning outturn has been significantly affected by location specific nutrient management practices.

Integrated water management

• All the in situ rainwater conservation practices have given significantly higher seed cotton yield. Among different soil moisture conservation techniques, opening furrow in each row appears to be significantly superior.
• Intercropping of cotton with soybean, black gram or green gram is beneficial in intercepting rains and conserving soil moisture and high productivity.
• Alternate furrow irrigation has given WUE of 16.4 kg/ha/mm as against 9.4 kg/ha/mm in every furrow irrigation.
Bioinoculants
• Fifty two isolates of Azospirilum, 29 isolates of PSB (Phosphorus solubilising bacteria) and 297 isolates of PPFM (Methylobacterium species) were isolated from cotton rhizosphere and phylosphere of different cotton genotypes. The result of the trials at various centers revealed that there was an yield increase of 10.70%, 10.38 % and 0.30% due to inoculation of GAU strain, HAU strain and TNAU strain of Azospirillum alongwith phosphobacterium and PPFM, TNAU.

  

  Influence of Methylotrophs on cotton seedling vigor index

Refining regional level prediction of yield

• INFOCROP, a generic model has been adopted for cotton yield prediction and model has been calibrated for prediction of soil water balance in vertisols. Model has been validated using location, year, hybrid, variety, date of sowing, levels of fertilizer, rainfed and irrigated conditions. An integrated approach for production assessment was developed utilising remote sensing, GIS and crop model was tested for Nagpur and Dharwad districts. The results are as such promising.

  IRS-P6 LISS-III data showing spatial distribution of cotton crop in Nagpur district (Oct. 11, 2004)

  
  

Ergonomically efficient implements for cotton production

• Sowing machines for all power sources have been developed. Tractor drawn pneumatic planter, precision plot drill and ridger seeder are available for planting cotton and other bold seeds. Two row bullock drawn planter for cotton is also available. These machines have resulted in saving in time of 96% and cost of cultivation to the tune of 42-44% over conventional methods. The planters are recommended for North zone only, as check row planting is not practised in the other 2 zones. However, in Central and South zone in the areas where cotton is drilled, these planters and drills can be used.

  Prototype cotton planter with belt type seed metering mechanism

• A self propelled power weeder has been developed for small holding situation which results in cost and time saving of 78% and 94% respectively over conventional manual weeding. Power tiller operated boom sprayer has been developed to enhance efficiency of spraying, wider coverage and safety of operators. These are recommended for all the 3 zones.

Power tiller operated boom sprayer with front mounted boom




Biotic stress management

IPM at village level

• Area under cotton IPM has been brought to about 40 acres in North zone, 160 acres in Central zone and 220 acres in South zone. Data on pest population, natural enemies and the yield indicated that the IPM practices generally led to lower pest attack, requiring less number of pesticidal sprays and provided better benefit-cost ratio. There was almost 50% reduction in insecticide sprays in IPM block as compared to farmers practice (FP). There was a two to four fold increase in the population of coccinellid and crysoperla adults.
• Data entry software for Pest Management Information System (PMIS) has been generated.

Diagnostic tools for differentiation and detection of biotypes/races of insect pests and pathogens

• A rapid and simple PCR protocol has been developed and optimized for detection of bacterial blight of cotton caused by the pathogen Xanthommonas axonopodis pv. Malvacearum. This will facilitate detection of African strain of the pathogen in imported seed samples as African strains of the pathogen are yet to be reported from India and hence are of quarantine significance. The PCR method in the form of diagnostic kit can aid in detection of seed borne infection in quarantine laboratories. Threshold for successful amplification is 25 cells and the method can be used to differentiate it from other yellow colored non-xanthomonad contaminants
• A new twig imprint method has been developed for detection of CLCuV infection in cotton using antibody raised against cabbage leaf curl virus. It can be routinely used for detection of the virus in cotton and weed hosts by amplification of a 0.7 kb CP gene.
• Number of cornutal spines in the genitalia of male moths of Heliothis armigera was found to be of diagnostic significance.

Molecular Differentiation of Helicoverpa armigera strains based on COI PCR-RFLP (BstUI)




Commercialization of bioagent mass production

• Fermented culture methodology was found suitable for mass production of Tricoderma and peak production was achieved only after 3 days.
• Talc formulation of Tricoderma harzianum with 15 % moisture was found viable even after 180 days of storage at room temperature. This indicates that this formulation can be stored well under conditions normally prevalent in most parts of the cultures.
• Modified protocol for mass production of Entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Heterolabditis indica has been standardized.

  Trichoderma viride (T.V-32) on Alternaria macrospora

Post- harvest Technology

• The Hand-cum-Power operated cotton stalk compacting machine has been fabricated from mild steel sheets. In the event of electricity failure, the machine can also be operated manually by rotating a wheel which brings down and up the pressing plate. It is possible to make about 200 bales of 10 kg each in a day of 6 hours employing 2 persons.
• Commercial trial on preparation of hard board and particle board from cotton stalks showed that the process is technically feasible and good quality boards conforming to BIS specification can be prepared from cotton stalks.
• Executive stationary materials were prepared from cotton linter pulp at Hand Made Paper Institute, Pune.
• Paperboards from one tonne bleached linter pulp were prepared with the help of private mill. Efforts are underway to prepare different types of folders.

  Hand-cum-Power Operated Cotton Stalk Compacting Machine

  
  

Technology interventions

• Planting of cotton on flat beds and opening of ridges and furrows at last intercultural operation has increased the productivity to the tune of 18 % over farmers' practice of sowing of cotton on flat beds without opening of ridges and furrows.
• In Central zone, it has been observed that on an average 16% more yield can be achieved by adopting INM model. In South zone, INM model increases the productivity by 22% over farmers' practice.

Information, cotton website and documentation

• A cotton information retrieval system has been developed. The system constitutes a database of vast amount of series of data on all aspects of cotton with respect to district level, state level, centre level, country level and also globally.
• Two CDs were developed
• A website of CICR has been launched which is constantly being upgraded with information on various projects.
  
  



TECHNOLOGIES GENERATED

The following technologies have been found to be beneficial after review of the progress of work and may be tested on a large scale with the support of Mini Mission II.

• Promotion of released varieties
• Dry sowing in cotton
• Rainwater management (in situ soil moisture conservation)
• Site specific nutrient management for a targeted yield
• Popularisation of bioinoculant like Pink Pigmented Facultative methylotroph
• " Detection of seed borne infection by PCR in different cotton growing areas.
• Monitoring the spread of leaf curl virus infection in cotton and its weeds by PCR.

The year 2004-05 has witnessed a record production of 232 lakh bales with a productivity figure of 440 kg of lint/ha, which is a major breakthrough. Compared to 2003-04, there is area increase by 52%, production by 31% and productivity by 14%. Research under TMC-MMI for Genetic Improvement of Cotton has been oriented to develop cultures/breeding materials keeping in view the requirements of textile industry for fibre parameters as per Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology norms. The promising cultures fulfilling these requirements are again promoted to evaluate their stability under multi locational trials and advance cultures are promoted to AICCIP system for further testing and release. Pesticide consumption in cotton pest management has been reduced from 50% to 35% as a result of popularizing IPM packages through village level trials.