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.

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.