Objective of the project To deliver a BMP implementation program that leads to attainment of the industry commitment of having 100% of cotton growers audit ready by June 31st 2001.

In early 1999 the Centre for Water Policy Research was approached by tl1e Namoi Water Users Association, the NSW Irrigators Council, and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), to investigate the possibility of introducing Capacity Sharing for Namoi Valley irrigators. It was agreed that the Department of Land and Water Conservation, New South Wales (DLWC) would provide a copy of their Namoi river Integrated Quality and Quantity Model (IQQM), a hydrology model, to the Centre to enable the modelling of sharing scenarios. However, the DLWC advised the Centre that the Namoi IQQM was still being developed, and would not be available until October 1999 * The Centre then sought to use the DL WCs' monthly model for the Namoi Valley had been in use before the development of the IQQM. After discussions with the DL WC staff it was determined that the monthly model did not contain transmission loss elements, and would not therefore be suitable for the estimation of Capacity Shares. It was established that there were no other suitable existinig models, and that the creation of a new model would be necessary for this project Because of the project timetable the Centre researchers resolved to build a river hydrology model, with monthly time

Project objectives (i) Complete characterisation of putative fungal genes isolated from the cDNA library prepared Q from Sicala V-1 plants infected with V. dahliae. (ii) Analyse the functional role of potential fungal pathogenicity genes and conduct surveys to identify genetic polymorphisms in other V. dahliae isolates that might be associated with increased pathogenicity. (iii) Conduct survey of V. dahliae isolates using AFLP fingerprinting to identify genetic polymorphisms that might be associated with increased pathogenicity. (iv) Develop a molecular assay for the differentiation of pathogenic strains in field material.

With the formation of the new Australian Cotton CRC and the possible expansion of cotton growing in the Northern Territory and in the north of Western Australia, we were requested to conduct a cotton disease survey in these areas. This survey was conducted during 28 July - 4 August 1999. We visited the Katherine area in the Northern Territory and Kununurra and Broome areas in Western Australia

major project objectives: 1. Xcm avirulence (avr) genes as SAR triggers Characterise F1 progeny in terms of expression levels of SAR markers and tolerance to fungal infection using Verticillium and Altemaria 2. Promoters Screen fis-gus progeny for gus expression induced by fungal infection to establish the sensitivity of tis promoter to fungal induction. Establish gus expression after treatment with chemical SAR inducers e.g. BTH. 3. Screen other transform ants for transgene presence.

The project objective was to contribute to production of Helicoverpa resistant cotton cultivars by identifying proteins capable of blocking insect digestion. Plants normally attempt to protect themselves from insect feeding by making protein inhibitors which block the action of essential digestive enzymes. Recent work has shown that insects are able to overcome the effects of these inhibitors by producing new enzymes that are less sensitive to the inhibitors. This project characterised the digestive proteinases of H. armigera and investigated the effects of different classes of proteinase inhibitors on the types proteinases produced by the insect larvae. The effects on insect growth and survival of combining multiple proteinase inhibitors were also determined.

Aims Continue to develop and field test CottonLOGIC and related management cl packages with particular emphasis on lngard cotton and later food spray technology. 2. Validate the CottonLOGIC thresholds, sampling systems and decision rules for lngard and compare the economic performance of lngard with conventional cotton. 3. Promote the continued adoption of CottonLOGIC programs and provide training and support for growers and consultants in all regions.

This study is aimed at improving the quality of cotton lint by reducing the fibre to metal friction in the ginning of seed cotton. Several lubricants were used to apply to ginned lint prior to ginning on a small laboratory gin at Narrabri, NSW. The results indicated that small reductions in fibre to metal friction resulted in small improvements in the 2.5% span length of the ginned lint. There were no difficulties encountered with applying lubricants prior to ginning. With other lubricants, not evaluated in the ginning study, have been found to reduce the fibre to metal friction to a greater extent than those used in the ginning study. It is proposed that these lubricants be further evaluated in the next phase of the project.

The aims of this project were two-fold. Firstly, we intended to isolate, characterise and test r genetic elements which control genes expressed at very high levels in the cotton fibre but at low levels elsewhere in the plant. We obtained seven such elements, three of which were shown to be fibre-specific in cotton transfonnation experiments. These important elements are now available for further research and engineering of the fibres, as they allow expression of genes (such as pigment or pest resistance genes) just in fibre cells. A second aim was to target and isolate genes which had not been isolated from cotton, but which, based on data from other plant systems, we suspected would be important in fibre development. We isolated and characterised several such genes, many of which are regulatory, that is, control the expression of other genes, and may have a role in the initiation of cotton fibre growth. This significant preliminary analysis has put us in a position to test these genes, in order to r identify the best candidate(s) for manipulation of cotton fibre characteristics and yield.

Objectives 1. Establish lines of known parentage from available resistant strains of H. armigera (derived from VICRATS and RATS from Dr Neil Forrester, formally NSW Agriculture) 2. Establish the genetic mapping techniques, determine the contributions of different chromosomes to the resistance phenotype, compare this map to those available for Bt resistant Heliothis virescens 3. Provide the strains to Dr Ray Akhurst, CSIRO Entomology, for analysis of the mechanisms associated with resistance and to Dr Forrester for field studies.