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.

Extracted term, , The grant was used to employ two consultants expert in the field of aircraft testing - CP AS (Mr. Nicholas Woods) and Spraycheck Pty Ltd (Mr. Graeme Barrett) and their supporting teams. On the basis of their submission of a cost of approximately $30,000, aircraft were to be checked for compliance with the requirements of the endosulfan label for the 1999-2000 cotton season. AAAA organised operators to bring their aircraft to five central locations for checking, being Emerald, Dalby, Moree, Wee Waa and Warren

The purpose of this project was to assess the current status of water use efficiency of the cotton industry at both crop and farm level using historical water management infomation from commercial producers and existing farming system trials. The information gathered from producers included neutron moisture meter readings, dates of sowing, harvesting and irrigation, yield, amount of irrigation water inputs and weather data. Data from existing farming system trails at ACRI and the CRC farming system sites were used to investigate the effect of fanning systems on cotton crop water use efficiency

The transport mechanisms and fate of cotton pesticides and nutrients were investigated as part of a major R&D program undertaken by the cotton industry in the early 1990 s. Key findings were that the highest risk of moving pesticides off site occurred: * early in the growing season * during storms that caused runoff and sediment losses * where soil cover was low. To reduce the risks, growers sought practical solutions for reducing pesticide movement

For the fourth season, the CRDC have commissioned a survey to examine the impact of INGARD Cotton, (by Monsanto) on pesticide use in the Australian cotton industry. This section of the survey examines the differences in use patterns by examining details of paired comparisons of INGARD and Conventional cotton. This years survey is similar in many aspects to surveys done in previous seasons, with additional information on qualitative aspects and inclusion of statistical analysis of yields. Heliothis pressure this season was lower compared to previous season. Incidence of some sucking pests, in particular aphids was higher in some valleys. Tipworm pressure was very low and no records were made this season.

OBJECTIVES * Quantify and compare the population densities of beneficial soil fauna! groups in commercial irrigated cotton fields that are managed using conventional, lngard, and Envirofeast technologies. * Determine the feeding links of key soil-dwelling predator species on selected key insect pests of cotton using direct observational approaches (field, glasshouse or laboratory studies) and complementary * Develop a research sampling protocol for estimating the densities of key soil fauna! groups in commercial irrigated cotton.

Project objectives a * Prepare cDNA libraries from young cotton ovules at the time fibre cells begin to initiate.* Sequence 2500 clones from the cotton cDNA libraries

This report has been prepared as a cotton management tool for the cotton growers and their consultants in the Darling Downs Cotton Management Group. This report summarises the data collected in this group for the 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons. The first part of the report presents the information in bar graphs showing the average results for each season. The second part of the report presents the information in scatter graphs which shows the range and variability of each field's results. The Report's information has been collected from 162 dry land and 169 irrigated fields over the last three seasons. All of the fields are located around Dalby based on the cotton growing areas of Jimbour, Macalister and Warra north of Dalby, and Nandi and Kupunn to the south-west. In the last three years there has been a change in the attitude of growers in the group towards the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This has been driven by the increased availability of IPM tools such as the newer lngard varieties and softer chemical options. The group has also participated in this benchmarking report and workshops which have shown the economic benefits ofIPM. They have also shared experiences of other growers and consultants on how they have managed their crops and what has been successful.

A walk-in cool room was originally planned to be part of the new cotton breeding/pathology wing at the Australian Cotton Research Institute but was deleted during the construction phase due to budget constraints. The cool room is a feature for the efficient conduct of research in these laboratories

Objectives * To compare the distribution of Helicoverpa life stages on conventional and INGARD cotton varieties in relation to sampling protocols. * To assess the suitability of sampling protocols developed for Helicoverpa on conventional cotton varieties, for use with IN GARD cotton varieties