HIGHLIGHTS of AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 9-I Aa Iel t&4 ae--Cottons and Corns Are Products of Years of Plant Breeding . Systemics-A New Approach to Fighting Ornamental Plant Insects . Nematodes-Tiny But Mighty . . . Planting and Cultivating Are Important Steps in Cotton Mechanization . . . Chemical Weed Control in Cotton Can Cut Hoe Labor 80 to 100 Per Cent . . Even More Meat Per Pound of Feed. VOL. 2, No. 1 S E R V I N G A I L o f - SPRING 1955 AL A B A M A AGRICUL STATION of the TURAL E SYSTEM XPERI MENT ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Sii BREEDING OF COTTON AND CORNvarie- ties is not a game of chance! It is a highly skilled technique of breeders who know their plant history and who carefully study plant material before lines are finally selected for com- bining into new varieties. In some cases, many years are spent by the plant breeder in developing a new variety es- pecially adapted to a given area. As early as 1908, the API Agricul- tural Experiment Station had started its cotton breeding project. Although some breeding work had been done earlier with open-pollinated corn varieties, it was not until 1946 that a modern hy- brid corn breeding program was begun in Alabama. The breeding of cotton and corn- Alabama's two major farm crops - has many problems in common. The most important consideration is yield. All the breeding work for yield improve- ment of these two crops has as back- ground information the extensive variety testing programs conducted throughout the State. In addition to yield, both crops have other characters on which improvement work is being done: namely, lodging, disease resistance, in- sect resistance, adaptation to mechan- ical harvesting, improved quality, and many others. Corn Breeding Corn breeding by hybridization meth- ods had its beginning in the U.S. in the early part of this century, but it was not until 1947 that suitable hybrids became available for Alabama. Although the first recommended hybrids were an im- provement over the open-pollinated va- rieties, it was realized at the time that better hybrids could be obtained through plant breeding methods. As a result, the API Agricultural Experi- ment Station started a corn improve- ment program in 1946. This program has not been in operation long enough * In cooperation with USDA. to have developed a new hybrid but significant advances have been made. Inbred lines that offer promise in hy- brids have been developed and tested. These new lines are now incorporated into hybrids that must undergo further testing before they can be fully evalu- ated. In addition to the efforts to develop new hybrids, companion studies on nematode and earworm resistance have been initiated. Still another func- tion of the corn breeding program is to supervise the maintenance of breeder's and foundation seed of certain hybrids now in production. Foundation seed of Dixie 18 and North Carolina 27 were produced in 1954. Plans are underway to expand this program to include other hybrids. Cotton Breeding Cotton varieties released by the API Experiment Station are constantly being improved from the yield standpoint. Additional work is underway to better adapt them for harvest with the spin- dle picker and to improve fiber quali- ties and disease resistance. The breeding of wilt-resistant cottons has long been the number one problem of cotton breeders in Alabama. The first study conducted in the South on the problem of wilt and nematodes of cotton was made at Auburn by George F. Atkinson in 1890. Breeding for re- sistance to wilt was initiated in 1908. The first highly resistant cotton variety, Cook 307, was released in 1917. This variety was well adapted to production on all wilt soils of the southern and central parts of the State. Later a strong demand developed for a longer staple length of all cotton varieties. Cook 144 and several other Cook varie- ties with a staple length of about one inch were released during 1920 to 1930. Cook 144 became the most popu- lar variety for production on wilt soils from 1930 to 1940. The purchase of the Plant Breeding NEW COTTONS and CORNS Are Products of Years of Plant Breeding A. L. SMITH, Pathologist* F. S. McCAIN, Associate Plant Breeder Unit at Tallassee, Alabama, in 1945 gave a strong impetus to the cotton breeding program. After many years of searching for a soil severely infested with wilt and nematodes, this area was located. The infestation of the soil with these organisms is severe enough to give quick elimination of susceptible plants, making possible rapid progress in breeding resistant plants. This en- abled the early release of the wilt-re- sistant variety, Plains, in 1949. As indi- cated in variety tests, Plains is adapted for production in all parts of the State, and it outyields introduced varieties by about 5% at most locations. A recent review of all variety test data in the Cotton Belt shows that locally devel- oped varieties usually outyield those developed in other regions. A second variety, Auburn 56, was released in 1952. It is the most wilt- and nematode-resistant variety devel- oped anywhere and shows the full effect of the possibilities of breeding under the severe wilt and nematode condi- tions at the Plant Breeding Unit. Au- burn 56 is more stormproof than other commercial varieties and appears to have possibilities for use with spindle pickers. Work now under way is concerned with maintaining a supply of breeder seed of these two varieties and in add- ing newly developed characters from other sources. The present commercial varieties have hairy leaves that tend to cling to the open cotton and increase the pepper trash in mechanically har- vested cotton. A smooth-leaf Deltapine variety developed at the Delta Branch Station of Stoneville, Mississippi, has been combined with Alabama bred va- rieties to decrease leaf hairs. There are several other characteristics related to the improvement of varieties for me- chanical harvest which are being uti- lized in the breeding program; these are: higher fruiting, shorter fruiting branches, more upright plant type, and better stormproof qualities. Work has been in progress since 1946 to develop a variety with improved tensile strength. Cottons having greater strength - Hopi wild cotton, Sea Island, Acala 1517, and Wilds - are being crossed and back- crossed into local wilt-resistant material. Bacterial blight resistance has been dis- covered in unadapted upland cottons and improved nematode and wilt re- sistance was found in wild cottons from Central America. These two character- istics have been crossed into Station breeding lines. SYSTEM ICS A New Approach to Fighting Ornamental Plant Insects I'' / ~~r ~ 'IA 'it ~' *~'3~~ ' ~ eV*. N '~j~ ~ 'a B. WAYNFE ARTHUR, Assist ant Entomologist O N \ii IE-XI.,s CAN ilt \ XIII Cleatl traps to ttiaiis imflflitott p)lant insec'ts! whih itiXXXi ('V l~ cIX *X \ttnt jii'.tt'tjt'ttof cX iebnca cdipi'd an tiil)tth oiiC'XX goli I of it DCXX concept of' pllit insec'(t c'tll- WXhat itrc Xvstenmics? Tlix, are cheat- ic'ids titt arc ri'tilX tak(' ill 1 p Ljlants cheicalst'~i arc caried eto Lii] pll tant paits toxic to iisct'tt tha~t siuck I)LItt jitirt'. pIarts tim ittgaittst tios lIt Xitli lewhXXii III itinotl pet'st alt'e "suctkers." sXX 11111)01tault XX(apill for 01 tiameultttl pist lplt tttit lists. All 1-cliic XjtitX of pliti its it ti IIIX I'!\c q l itX , t \ t a d illili li I jilS iilt'cstltiiiis ilf t'.st' iiisct''s cili till ist' tIitL toL I-Ilii ts. Research on Systemnics Much'tI ti cciltXLii (iI II iiiltiiti It' iiiit'it Statiiii ill Liii' list 2 tat ls has Bli i \ st't' tii it r ll. 1csils I ) bf six XX stt'tiltcs tet'Xt'l tIl'itou Lit to S tX i\)X iii' Lt' Illist ftis. 2 ) Best ii Lliii r itt' is I t'itspoi 11 ofi .(LC iiilsifiiilt cooiiii t'i itt' Iiio tiittti C cmi 11)1 i ti oL I I a l l of.ii ii i X itt't. XI icpiit iciiX Ltis i \ sl obtiilldfo (_) I'liilits \\XX .( ii ' I iiiiit ofi' sc'ill' N ~' 0' L 'A U * S,'4' 'a. ... 1- Sonme insects igreatly magnified controlled by systemic treatment: upper left-white- flies; upper right-lace bugs; lower left-camellia scale; lower right-thrips. Left-Leaf from systemic-treated camellia free of tea scale; Right-leaf of untreated plant showing heavy tea scale infestation. upLii' till s XX ('1C' tilti li ag(fe tti t '~ lt (G) III lipplictii s to soil, tlit( lest iestills XX lit itiltiit'ti frilill il11ill h it of fulilts I8 toti 21 iitlis tiill]. Larti 'lt'tII ci's i 'ie of lxa." sprax pts ti Ill. 'ilo ol( XX s itt''X i X' Lii ti lt l -t IjL( XX f .11511-C rI S 101tt 1X 1d X L) .ip l Iit' HIII (tillI~s it coiroii. pily110 of I lid t it Lits2 t XX t'eks Lup tier oui ilics it f, sil'iitT'ls iXI itfits (S)il I )idc s'ilt's i XXde to tskXill lthi til( therI)liii ' ins sT obint (Li - trl I i X wtils ' itcesavt' lio.li e L~theLi doi t "I I 111iit' (2l tc1st i oX lls to tI thu fiX XX 1LI i 1 1 t'pid iti lii Xo Sil~t t'r listiti I I it \ t" lit iii .lt l toiii t Lil t' i XXtio Ll ii' Iiiit iXtits i t 1 ) 1 1111(X It' diop frt j ist't'L'.f(, t 1>11 75 V 4*4 1~ 0 (N S A I j4 -4 '4 NE MAJI 7eg C/ Fe~ Research Unde Development Cheaper E. J. CAMR N 1 XlODF 5101)1 XII (AN 1 ill tilt' huh11 age' tiitx (1o toilI lli of our t illIlliJ ti ti sijopit' ill size'. (hill1sin crop losses iii the U . S. isti- tlest' tel ike soil XXIIIrms ilt' tof iiet tax j1lt~ conteini to tiliii'! s at ll agyictetit it l it5th to at lthoi i 'inchtl ill liliutl. \\ldie somlit ae itiijeiciil ttther s i c O'dlliitlp aiteli sil lilt' i fX il crist andi XX Olioliti jlt' tiit'e ti 11 it( ht O it pilits. Th ill iti' liii i i d iiitl\ o11i- lt Iii Satoe t tsof ietia tits 15t' liltt ill. tiiul t ll ~tol. il rootsi l litt tisi klots tofl Ill ed iled or cttttX. Ililt isl \NolllsaCo ntrdel Lted )-~~l-"ot of, itii, for)1 1 itifil ! list' ii l l iac tia iltli tl ol sIll adit'ionii 1o til itt! I t'iotii's i t dc it la Its ii.uc toici\llhXri Iha iN.Spoild llltheitiol ii AOVE-Nemat1c odedmg toiltt(c cornis rootso result in lowred plnts vgrad.ils I llloliiilX Xol111 io i s iX c fo Xi i ch111 JI tiil\itltiI l aX p itct to t' b c o ('11111! t tit tiitii tt'ilI I (\\11(1, f r h~ lI. 111((1111 c o s ilitl XX i iuls i lhitititlc vI.s l ll \ 1( Sevel stunfted ctcitn pIlllantsflO igh caused bynemaTodes; twoe liatoded a ac sIge bolli each, the tiplnt onelii. thalt it' hut its (iihlosX aiiout the kindfs ofi 1 )liilitX oil XX hic) t lt' tteci. There- Ilii Xili14 \irxin 111 fo[od"l tas~tes. Another tfot flicre.Tutis. tltae! of lltel to1) kthex ittigi'. 14iXX ther ned toilit be'hiijtt leielldiligd thelt ilte illidttl' titeter dillANT1111 Fl~ll Nt.. 0 ShiIl It'XXt'iCS Oilt 01~ nM 44 i Above ph.otos show port it the new facilities for soils for nematode population counts; center-new plants of important economic crops for nematode re A; ''Itt OD E Way Points to f Better and ,ontrols Nematologist ii ,i ~j.! #~ 4 al )le to bre1 ed niemtodet )l resist ancte initot Somtie 5 atieties of ttottitlwittial planits. [lossesel tIlore t eseat ell is ttledl to titteittijite the lijititte of vaiouts kind~s of resi statnce and1( the oitat ii de species aigaiitst w ic1h the-\ are (,flictis C. Research Expanded llectliitig that baste icst"Il h is tiee(h(( if sttfitatitial proii.rs5, 1. to bei API Agi it ttin al Expeti ime(lt S tatiotn expandi(edl researchl progratal. T his is atiitcl sl)(ttficltyN ita it tiio b~lasic. itnfotrmtationt oil eAliatatetistits, ,f etditigf hiabits, andl w5ettiesses of the itlals Species oif fiAIit I itiltiides. natode research at Auburn. Left-technician screens eenhause to be used in year-round production of rch; right-graduate student at work in laboratory. Th liAssiociatiotn of Sotolihet il Expeti t set iolis 5 of "*t (tils" oii sotlitttri fot attaCkiog the pit (lleii n a tI regiiital bo1th i (seateli at ii teathii illtt this spe- cial field, the \gt jettttit a Vspet iiit .stiiat wias (lesigtiateil as a centet to THuC loi'tiitti at .\ttlt is thur f-old: I ) talste t eseateli oa i 055\ t tetitti (1 Cittise plait disiorders, (2) Itt Ideriadtt ate atl ( giatitt ttraitlg itt t ettatol- 0"V, Mtid (3) sets tee to gto alts iit stietitifit wiorkets oii the igitit ill ideti Nematodes caused severe root knot damage to this tomato plant, resulting in failure to set fruit and death of plant. toilitofi teeliio uts frlteseateh ti tsiletahle pt igtss fits iii (((I p ill i iet ll,1 (titisl ((I tat I l seat. tietit its tAiet i~inttl(C At owdte citj ittscavl t rset h cts it this Statiotn atnd the USD)A Seetitii of \(ttiatilogs' all issistitlit ttitiloimist ss li wsill also doi f trtlict gtadltate woratk ait Atfititt. T his Stationl assisted itt thec first :ttitital teiiotiilig wiotrkshoip for state txpflit stitdetts hiase itt ptrogress t eseatelt thtt iitls es studs iiioft tsistittee of cirtit iiH sat ieties" tot t55) (fillet etlit ts fit)S oif aIwIllitiides litt ate if itapattatite toi \labihttt id othiet Solitlieastttil States. Grant Made li hl aistp)~Iitt thlis ,X patided tu Mi tldh pi uii.t ii the lIocekeftlitr tatti ilititit last I'Lill tatde a gtrat itof 845 t0(tt to the Alabiatma Pals teehlit Itstitute fot. reseatrel at d ting itt Il tetoatologs Thlis hind \I\as rootc is ilale fort a 3- sca pifetiodt, liegiti tg the fitst it this ft (tisutI kt ttisletilge itt t lilatotles ssill )I)( Sate ]-(t(t tt Itotti \\xi~l fitc ( taie e f( Ais (j tith le (sstlsr tiitittl)S oftitt tiitls Si ill he( (Iihie l the tlittittre. ABOVE-Damage to roots and nuts of pea- nut plant caused by root knot nematodes. S Mecha nization* U 001) STANDiS tttd effectiv e irleclllt- icdl cutiixatitn iof cottint are tiolt aecti dettts: tliex stein I rotn gitodt 1 latttittg. Latid selection it) t t( ptrepatii , it xl ec- til adpi ts uii t of i c(itsts, xlelld, at t layouti,ttiCI a t e tii g. of c xpeatin tilt t x b~ocue ee ix orbingad labr titn ittttrlloritt x ettd n Se nt er edii- xio oficrld,s xxl 1,d Nsip. , titi forttmactio ia eeto extittg.pa rPlanting itt d t setands antt xetrxctivcermecxhaxitl ctit o otl r e ix mort n t frn thii i e litat ints oi( flttt lab r cotstie ld, ad lt ilttr Sitce cttti i xll S e r t lltlc otf dolplar rttptt ntin ) c t to 5 ~oithr g i t fexx' th(i nui is fi c estg i) tItu i oll tetd c t tol illd ott r t ands iPt ooxxxi l ~ta s mean. ~ por Eoirt.s weed Br. v~lS "sips, and Dol T. E. CORLEY C. M. STOKES F. A. KUMMER Department of Agricultural Engineering shourt andt igh.~ ft iititt. limits xxhich ptltx best for mechanttical itat x stiti.. Al iso, ctttte spain aisCishdig.u A biushiel ofi gtoot seed pet acre lit atl thcle depth 11)1 thrw hit i.