Project objectives ( i) Conduct Verticillium wilt disease grading of F2 progeny from the intra-specific crosses G. hirsutum Sicala V-1 x Siokra 1-4 and Acala Royale x CS 50 and the inter-specific cross G. Q barbadense Pima S-7 x G. hirsutum CS 50. (ii) Identify candidate DNA markers linked with enhanced resistance to Verticillium wilt from Sicala V-1, Acala Royale and Pima S-7. (iii) Confirm and map candidate AFLP markers linked with resistance to Verticillium wilt from Sicala V-1, Acala Royale and Pima S-7. If needed, isolate additional AFLP markers that bracket the resistance gene(s). (iv) Test characterised AFLP markers linked with resistance to Verticillium wilt on other cotton varieties to determine correlations in more distant germplasm. (v) Develop rapid molecular assays for DNA markers for enhanced resistance to Verticillium wilt from Sicala V-1, Acala Royale and Pima S-7.