Provide a one page Summary of your research that is not commercial in confidence, and that can be published on the World Wide Web. Explain the main outcomes of the research and provide contact details for more information. It is important that the Executive Summary highlights concisely the key outputs from the project and, when they are adopted, what this will mean to the cotton industry.

SiroMat is an instrument that measures fibre maturity directly and accurately. Its advantage over other test methods is that it measures maturity directly and is able to measure the fibre to- fibre distribution of maturity in a specimen. Moreover the test time is around two minutes, which is comparable with other low volume instrument test times. SiroMat is currently undergoing technical trials with a view to preparing it for commercialisation.

In order for SiroMat to be taken up by the wider industry its utility needs to be realised by the wider research and commercial cotton testing and marketing segments. During a recent meeting with Uster Technologies (USA) interest was expressed in the SiroMat on this basis.

In order to continue to highlight its value SiroMat data will be recorded on samples from a wide number of Australian and international industry sponsored cotton breeding, agronomy and textile projects.

SiroMat is an automated version of the polarized light microscopy technique, which analyzes interference colors transmitted by cotton fibres when they are placed between crossed polars and a first order retardation plate. The percent areas of colors in images of fibre snippets relate directly to fibre maturity. Moreover, because fibres are analyzed on an individual basis a maturity distribution for a sample can also be measured. In this study SiroMat measurements are reported for blends comprising different proportions of cotton fibre picked from plants subjected to differential defoliation timing treatments. The proportion of immature fibres in each sample is correlated with measurements on the same samples of neps per gram made by the AFIS PRO. The motivation behind this study is based on the desire to manage the amount of immature fruit included in a crop, and how this relates to nep generation in the gin and spinning mill.

Fibre maturity is regarded as a central characteristic of cotton fibre through its direct and indirect correlation with physical and chemical properties of commercial and technical importance. SiroMat is an automated version of the polarized light microscopy technique, which analyzes interference colours transmitted by cotton fibres when they are placed between crossed polars and a first order retardation plate. The percent areas of colours in images of fibre snippets relate directly to fibre maturity. Moreover, because fibres are analyzed on an individual basis a maturity distribution for a sample can also be measured. In this study two sub-sets of cotton each with the same average Micronaire but with different fibre maturity values as measured by SiroMat were processed from raw fibre through to dyed finished knit fabric. The objective of the study was to examine the sensitivity of SiroMat average maturity and distribution values in predicting differences in griege yarn and dyed fabric quality. Results of the study demonstrate the relevance of SiroMat test results in terms of predicting fibre maturity and fineness related quality problems and in particular the potential for SiroMat to be used as a tool for managing dye uptake problems at the mill laydown.

Note: this project supported the operation of a fibre quality laboratory at ACRI to service most research projects. Specific details on fibre quality results are listed in those project reports.

This project part funded operation and maintenance of HVI900 and FMT3 cotton fibre testing instruments and associated air conditioning in CSIRO’s fibre testing laboratory at ACRI for the 2006/07 season. The laboratory supports measurements of fibre quality from cotton experiments in CSIRO’s breeding program and research projects by other organisations and projects.

More than 20,000 samples were tested by HVI and 10,000 samples by FMT.

Global cotton production and market dynamics indicate Australia needs a future edge with fibre quality to ensure buyers will want our cotton in preference to our competitors. This means developing varieties, management and processing to ensure we deliver better fibre. There may be opportunities for premium fibre products in future. Thus the CSIRO cotton breeding program raised the emphasis on developing improved fibre varieties to address these needs.

Negative associations between yield and fibre quality present challenges for variety development. We have accurately measured these associations and developed breeding population sizes to ensure the rare combinations of high yield and quality can be identified. Accurate measurement of fibre quality is an important component of that work.

Progress has been good, with improved fibre length achieved in high yielding varieties and breeding material with premium fibre identified.

This project started in 1981 funded by ACGRA. CRC assumed funding until the project terminated in 1986. The aims of the project were: * to link the SIRATAC fruit model to a water balance model and to a soil and plant nitrogen balance model. *to make the SIRATAC fruit model sensitive to water and nitrogen stress. * to develop an expert system that uses data from the enhanced fruit model for pest, irrigation and nitrogen management decision making.

GUNNEDAH farmer Scott Morgan has slashed the amount of money he spends on electricity used to irrigate cotton on his property, 'Kensal Green', by investing in solar and by reducing the amount of energy he uses to pump water for his crops.

AN ENERGY expenditure that had been climbing by around 10 per cent per year coupled with concerns about climate change have prompted St George cotton irrigators Ian and Anne Brimblecombe, 'Burgorah', to install solar panels which generate 100kW of electricity

Australian cotton production areas are prone to significant damage by hail storms. Following a hail strike, a grower is left with trying to make the most out of what remains of his crop. There are few guidelines or criteria available to assist growers in making management decisions in regard to their hail damaged crop. A three year project looking at the management of hail damaged cotton crops, instigated and funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, was begun in the 1993/94 season with the aim of developing some guidelines for managing hail damaged cotton crops

Farmers have probably always realised that soil is alive. Good soil seems to have certain intangible qualities, over and above its physical structure and chemistry. There is something special about topsoil. What are these intangible qualities? We all know that microorganisms in the soil can cause disease. However, in the last 25 years scientists have started to recognise the importance of some very helpful soil inhabitants, especially the vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi and beneficial bacteria.

The cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a serious pest of fibre and horticultural and ornamental crops worldwide. When present in sufficient numbers, it can cause extensive damage through direct feeding, the production of large quantities of honeydew and as a vector of many viruses. A new biotype was first identified in the USA, known as the B-type or poinsettia strain. Overseas, the B-type B, fabric is a primary pest on cotton, other vegetable crops (curcubits, tomatoes, rock melons) and ornamentals. This strain is extremely virulent, insecticide resistant, adapts to temperate climates and has a host range of over 500 plants. B-biotype B.tabaci were detected for the first time in Australia in October 1994 in both Darwin and Tamworth. During 1994/95, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation funded a survey to determine the current Australian distribution of B-type B. tabaci and its insecticide resistance status. Investigations suggest that the B-biotype B.tabaci was first introduced into Australia in late 1993, via poinsettias which were legally imported from California in the United States to Coffs Harbour (NSW). Our surveys show that this whitefly is well established and widespread in eastern Australia and eradication is not considered possible. The whitefly has not yet been detected in Victoria, South Australia or Western Australia, however it is very likely that infested plants have been sent to these states.

This talk is heavily dependant on slides, so the following 1s really only a &quote;background&quote; paper. My approach when giving such a talk to canegrowers, has been to devote the first half to explaining why it is essential that an industry be seen to be environmentally sensitive. If you, the grower ( be it cane or cotton ) don't appreciate that need, you are not likely to listen with any degree of interest. I've heard Maree McCaskill, Executive Director of the Australian Cotton Foundation speak at a Canegrowers' conference, and imagine many of you are already aware of the public relations benefits of such an approach.