Genetic engineering to confer useful agronomic and fibre traits will lower the cost and time

required for producing improved cotton varieties and will promote environmentally-friendly

farm practices. Genetic improvement of cotton fibre morphology requires both useful genes

and appropriate expression of the genes in cotton fibres. Previous CRDC-funded research in

our laboratory has aimed to address both these requisites, concentrating on genes which are

expressed in fibres but not in other cotton tissues.

We have identified six different promoters within the cotton genome which directly control

the fibre-specificity and timing of expression of genes. Fibre-specific promoters allow the

expression of any particular transgene to be targeted to the fibres only, avoiding any

detrimental effects of expression on growth and morphology elsewhere within the plant. Each

of the six promoters was fused to a reporter gene, GUS, and, in transient assays, shown to

direct reporter gene expression that was confined to the fibres. The six promoter::GUS

constructs were then used to transforrn whole cotton plants and a large number of transgenic

lines were recovered. These have been tested for presence of the transgene and T2 seed

collected. Future work involves quantitative GUS assays on fibre extracts in order to confirm

the fibre-specificity of each promoter and to determine the temporal expression pattern and

relative strength of each promoter in cotton fibres ofT2 plants.

The second aim of this project wasto identify which of our candidate genes have potential

for alteration of fibre characteristics, by preparing gene constructs designed to change their

expression and testing their effects in whole-plant transformants. The most promising of our

genes encodes an expansin, a protein thought to control plant cell growth by chemical

modification of cell wall components. Expansins could therefore play a critical role in

determination of fibre quality and yield. Four constructs were made, in which the expansin

gene was placed under the control offour different promoters, designed to alter native

expansin expression. These promoters were available from our bank of fibre-specific gene

promoters. The gene constructs were used to transform whole cotton plants and a large

number of transformed lines were recovered. These have been tested for presence of the

transgene and T2 seed collected. T2 plants will be tested for the effects of the transgene on

fibre properties such as length, strength, micronaire, uniformity and maturity.

This project has part funded field operation costs charged by DPI to CSIRO for experiments on ACRI at Narrabri in 2005/06. More than 20 projects have been supported over the three years and all field operations have been done well through collaboration within CSIRO and between CSIRO and NSW DPI.

CSIRO field research has addressed all important areas for yield and sustainability: breeding, disease resistance, soil and water management and insect management. Results of that research have substantially improved industry performance and value. Cotton breeding and decision support systems have been estimated to have added $5.2 to regional economies in the past 20 years. IPM research (by all research organisations) has been successful in substantially reducing the volume of insecticide used on cotton.

A reflection of the value of the Cotton Production course by attendee Annette Heagney.

"The Cotton Production Course has immensely assisted me in my daily working life by providing a thorough understanding of cotton and the industry. The knowledge and skill set expanded upon throughout the course has enabled me to make informed decisions within our business, from the day-to-day operations through to the strategic and Board management decisions. The education I have received through the course has allowed me to confidently contribute towards the cotton and water user committees of which I am a member. I have also been able to expand on my knowledge by attending field days, the Cotton Conference and by having more informed conversations with fellow growers. The agronomics I have learnt through the course has been invaluable when applied to all facets of our mixed farming business. The Cotton Production Course provided me with an unexpected and extensive range of knowledge and skills relating to cotton, farming and business management that will continue to serve in my working life."

In 2008 the Cotton CRC invested in an Education Officer for 5 years to promote science and agriculture in schools. The schools program was developed to enhance and expand the science and environmental management syllabus in primary and high schools by providing relevant cotton information and opportunities for practical on-farm activities. The strategy proposed by the Cotton CRC was the promotion of science and agriculture in schools to encourage school students into careers in science and agriculture, specifically the cotton industry through collaborations with school teachers, scientists, the cotton extension teams, industry, catchment and government education agencies, to encourage primary and secondary school students to develop resources and implement science and agricultural based activities that engage students and ultimately promote the cotton industry as an employee’s career of choice.

The three year project reported herein is the continuation of that initial project directly with the CRDC. As per the previous role, the Education Officer continued to be employed by CSIRO based at the Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri. This facilitated continued direct connections with the industry, schools and rural communities. There was a shift in the current project to include a new initiative to better connect university graduates with potential employers in the cotton industry.

In the first two years of the project funding was allocated 60% to the project. In the third year of the project the Education Officers input increased from 60% to 100% primarily to include a new milestone that involved working with consultant, Mr Gordon Stone (Gordon Stone and Associates Pty Ltd) to establish contacts with the cotton industry agribusiness sector. Mr Stone’s CRDC funded project (GSA1501: Cotton Professional Personnel Program) was to survey agribusiness requirements for workforce development and match suitable students (undergraduates from the Horizon scholarship program, the PICSE Internship program and postgraduates) with agribusiness employers. This new initiative was an extension of the Education Officers role and involved trialing strategies for placements that vary in length and style of employment (short intensive terms, longer casual engagements, etc), and the way the employer contributes to the scheme (in-kind, financial, etc).

. The project (a) investigates soil physical and chemical measures relevant to the evaluation of the agricultural potential of cracking clay soils of the Namoi Valley; (b) provides laboratory data suited to the application of computer and geostatistical techniques to the grouping of the soils into classes for sustainable land use; and (c) relates the soil of local research stations to the soils of the neighbouring district.

The Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) is a proven national collaboration between universities, regional primary industries, national R&D Corporations, national agribusiness, regional research institutes, local community organisations, schools and State Government Departments. PICSE is designed to attract an increased supply of high-quality, young people into science-based primary industries and their supporting businesses through engagement with students during school years and early university. Through its program, PICSE attracts students into tertiary science and increases the number of skilled professionals in science-based primary industries.

The Cotton Industry Young Professionals project was established to create strong interaction with cotton industry personnel and stimulate student interest in studying science at university with a view to a career pathway into the Cotton Industry. The program was reinforced through the promotion of the importance of science, science education pathways, science based-careers, science-based industries and research to students and teachers. More specific Cotton Industry Young Professionals Program objectives included:

• Encouraging students to continue with school science and on to university science,

• Informing students and teachers about the diversity of exciting and rewarding science career

futures that are available in the cotton industry,

• Supporting science teachers with the provision of class activities, teaching resources and

targeted Professional Development particularly using cotton case studies,

• Linking with other cotton industry initiatives including current tertiary course offerings.

The success of the Cotton Industry Young Professionals Program was achieved through the collaborative partnership between the Cotton RDC, the Institute for Agriculture and the Environment (University of Southern Queensland), CSIRO and the Australian Cotton Research Institute. The project built on the resources previously developed by PICSE with involvement by regional universities, cotton industry agribusinesses and other employers.

Alternative and renewable energy sources, including solar for powering cotton production, were hot topics at this week’s (24 and 25 February) CottonInfo Big Days Out at St George, QLD and Gunnedah, NSW. The days attracted 60 and 80 participants respectively and visitors were keen to hear from experienced growers, energy researchers, auditors, consultants and system providers. Ian and Anne Brimblecombe hosted the first day at their St George farm, “Burgorah”, while day two was on Scott Morgan’s property “Kensal Green”, Gunnedah. AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year, Narrabri farmer Brendon Warnock featured at the days, sharing insights into his farm operation, including strategic planning, human resource management and expansion. CottonInfo and its associated partners, CRDC, Cotton Australia and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), ran the events, with funding assistance from the Commonwealth Department of Industry and Science

Travel funding was provided to 11 Future Cotton Leader recipients to enable them to travle to various industry related meetings. At each meeting, recipients interacted and were exposed to prominant business and industry leaders. Individaul Reports are available.

Recipients included:Brendon Warnock, Philip Firth, Daniel Hayllor, Brendan Barry, Annabel Wiseman, Fleur Anderson, Mitchell Carter, N Burnett, Ross Burnett,Rod Gordon and Sandy Young

The Darling Downs Cotton Growers Incorporated(DDCGI), as well a individual growers established a series of 21 weather stations across the region over the period 1996-1998. The weather stations are a means of providing growers with localised weather information to assist in farm management operations. The DDCGI has maintained these over this period and has recently commenced another upgrade on the stations to convert them from analogue to digital. The purpose of this project was to fund further upgrades to the stations. These upgrades have enabled text communications with the growers rather than voice in the old analogue system. To date, 11 stations have been upgraded by the DDCGI. The upgrades have had a significant impact on the efficiency for growers accessing weather data in critical times. In addition, and an extension of the usage, the stations have proven invaluable in assisting the growers to meet their legislative responsibilities in relation to chemical use.

The Darling Downs hold an annual grower of the year field day to showcase our local grower of the year and to provide information to growers on a range of topics. This information is improving local practises and knowledge of local weather variability, with access to long term weather history data. In February 2016, 160 persons attended the Annual Darling Downs Grower of the Year Field Day and to provide information to growers on a range of topics.

The cotton industry invests significantly across the cotton industry and agriculture more broadly, though its leadership development programs. This has created an upswell of engaged leaders, contributing in different forums,organisations, committees ad communities to the advancement of the cotton industry as a whole.

the cotton industry has a strong reputation amongst its graduate participants for being progressive, encouraging, inclusive ad dynamic.this bodes well for future recruitment to the sector as well as encouraging stewardship and leadership within.

While the leadership program offerings are extensive, there remains a few crucial critical leadership capacity gaps. This report examines current and identified gaps.