Statenent of work for FOV4 evaluation.docx

Statement of Work for Evaluation of Cotton Lines to FOV4

Grow and evaluate for resistance to Fusarium wilt race 4 (FOV4), 87 rows of various breeding lines of cottonseed provided by USDA ARS scientist located at Mississippi State, MS. The requirement for this evaluation are:

1. Evaluation of these plant must be conducted by a plant breeder who is a skilled and experienced expert in the evaluation of cotton plants for FOV4 resistance in a highly infested field.

2. The plant breeder must have access to a field with a proven very high level of FOV4 inoculum.

3. Seed must be planted in a pattern that has plants of a susceptible line of cotton beside each row of cotton being evaluated.

4. Planting pattern must also have a highly resistant variety of Gossypium barbadense planted very near each row of cotton being evaluated.

5. Plants must be maintained in the field in such a way as to produce normal growth except for susceptible plants that are killed by the FOV4.

6. Plant stand must be established and recorded.

7. Plants in each row must be rated for survival several times during the season.

8. Individual plants alive in each row of cotton at harvest time must be cut and the stems split and rated for degree of stain in the vascular tissue from FOV4 pathogen. An exception to this operation would be if the plants are obviously very susceptible, but just not dead.

9. An evaluation of relative productivity must be estimated at harvest time.

10. All data must be recorded and used in making a final determination of the level of resistance of each row to FOV4.

11. A written report of the level of resistance to FOV4 must be determined and sent to the USDA scientist.