Dr. Don Keim

Retired Breeder / Consultant|

2024 Abstract - DEVELOPING COMMERCIALLY USABLE COTTON WITH RESISTANCE TO EMERGING COTTON DISEASES: Useful traits exist in wild or old cotton lines but require years to develop into elite lines usable to cotton breeders. This step, called pre-breeding, involves integration of wild or obsolete cotton traits into elite lines with agronomic traits similar to successful cotton cultivars, saving breeders years in developing improved cultivars for U.S. growers. This strategy works best with traits that are easily inherited such as disease resistance. Elite lines with resistance to cotton leaf curl virus or cotton leaf roll dwarf virus (cotton blue disease), are being developed through a unique approach utilizing genetic male sterility.