This review of the literature referring to A. macrospora indicates the extent of current knowledge about the pathogen and the disease it causes.

Currently in Australia there are approximately 700 cotton germplasm accessions located with CSIRO, QDPI and a few private seed companies. My job during 88/89 season will be to obtain samples of all these accessions and to grow then in the field for seed increase and evaluation of morphological and fibre characteristics. Good quality seed will be harvested, dried to 6% moisture content, and stored in alfoil packets at -20oC. Seed stored under these conditions will remain viable for 20-50 years. Data collected on morphological and fibre characteristics together with passport data (pedigree, origin. etc) will be entered on our computer database.

The objective of the cotton breeding programme is to breed cultivars which are adapted to central Queensland environments. Specific objectives include t.he development of cultivars having high yield, with stability of yield over years, a superior fibre quality (especially high fibre strength) bacterial blight resistance, and resistance to Heliothis and pinkspotted bollworm (obtained by selecting for okra leaf, smooth leaf, frego bract and nectarilessness).

Four cotton breeding programs have been operating in Australia, three i n New South Wales and one in Queensland . This is based on previous experience and limited evidence that cultivar s different from those in the Namoi are required on the Darling Downs and central Queens land. In orde r to efficiently pursue all aspects of cotton cultivar improvement in eastern Australia, a J critical examination is required of the adaptation patterns of cultivars and the effectiveness of locations to evaluate cultivar differences .

It is now two years since we advi sed the previous conference on the progress of the trials so will take this opportunity for a further update. The 1986/87 trial comprised sixteen entries and results were obtained for the following ten sites: Warren, Breeza, Narrabri, Bourke, Moree, Boggabilla, St George, Darling Downs, Biloela and Emerald. Results for that season have been printed in the Australian Cotton Grower (Nov. 1987). This season thirty entries were tested at twelve sites, the ten just cited, plus Theodore and Merah North. No yield results were able to be obtained from Merah North, effectively limiting the trial to eleven sites.

There are increasing areas of cotton grown in regions which are prone to cool seasons, eg. the Darling Downs, the upper Namoi and upper Macquarie valleys. Farmers even further south in the Lachlan valley are also now showing interest in cotton production and, given good management and suitable varieties, there appears no reason why they should not be successful. In all these more marginal areas an early maturing crop is highly desirable.

The major Australian cotton yarn spinners are encouraged by the improvements the researchers and the growers have managed to obtain in the newer varieties. Increased fibre strength has given increased yarn strengths (particularly in rotor spinning), which . generates improved fabric strength, and improved fabric production performance and efficiencies. The production of a finer, more mature fibre has also allowed the spinners to produce finer yarns than was possible before on the rotor spinning system.

The actual decision regarding which seed variety to plant had to be made some months -ago by growers through CSD, this decision is mostly based upon a number of factors, viz: 1: Yield 2: Resistance to insects and disease, such as bacterial blight 3: Quality of fibre The above are listed in order of importance to the grower. As a marketer I would like to move the order to place fibre quality into first place; however, I recognise that economics and the ability to make higher yield, consistent with quality, has to be of first importance

This Overview has been compiled after talking with a limited number of growers from most districts, and as could be expected there were some opposite opinions expressed. However I will talk about the most commonly expressed opinions and make brief comment about the opposite view where appropriate.

Seedling diseases include seed rots, pre and post emergent damping 9ff and root pruning. Numerous fungi can be responsible although Rhizoctonia sp., Pythiwn spp. and Fusarium spp. are the most important. It is sometimes difficult to separate seedling diseases from the effects of insects such as wireworms and herbicide damage. These other factors can also interact with the seedling disease pathogens to result in poor stand establishment and the costly need to replant.