Development of Mississippi Cotton Breeding Lines Resistant to Reniform and Root-Knot Nematodes Via Marker Assisted Selection

Marker assisted selection (MAS) was used to identify plants with resistance to both root-knot (RKN) and reniform (RN) nematodes within breeding populations at the Delta Research and Extension Center (DREC) that have in their pedigrees sources of both RKN and RN resistance.  In 2009, 220 populations were selected based upon molecular markers and fiber data for evaluation as progeny rows in 2010.  A subset of selected populations were grown in greenhouse containers (Spring 2010) and evaluated for RN resistance (reproduction index) to confirm phenotypes (resistance) of populations derived via MAS.  In addition to progeny row evaluation, a replicated yield trial of selected populations was planted in a RN infested field at Stoneville, MS to measure resistance under field conditions and to collect yield and fiber performance data.