Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., Cultivars Differential Response to Salinity

One impact of declining water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer is increased salinity in irrigation water, exacerbated by extended periods of drought allowing accumulation of salts in soils.  This research sought to develop a salt tolerance index for current cotton cultivars that can be used to both characterize genetic salinity response and investigate feasibility of developing breeding lines with improved response to salinity.  Salt tolerant cotton cultivars can improve economic viability of limited irrigation, ease transition to dryland production systems, and enhance understanding of water use and salinity interaction as it relates to crop productivity.  An existing hydroponic system used to screen wild accessions collected in saline geographies from the National Cotton Germplasm Collection was modified to characterize salinity response of current cotton cultivars and potential breeding lines for germination and early root development.