**9. Conclusion**

pest tolerance. Elucidating the genetic control of given traits is important to decide the merit in a specific germplasm. The gene action affecting phenotypes is elucidated by crosses and by recombination in progeny of backcrosses or segregating generations. Dominance becomes apparent in F1, BC and F2 generations, as do heritability, and deviations from Mendelian ratios resulting from epistasis, pleiotropic and maternal effects. Molecular-marker characterization can assist with "pyramiding" resistance alleles at different loci to produce more durable resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses. Extensive genome mapping projects of *Gossypium* species *via* the co-segregation of molecular markers and important traits of agronomic value can also help to determine the gene action underlying phenotypes. The need for undertaking planned adoption of MAS systems is emphasized especially for improvement of fibre quality param‐ eters and disease resistance attributes to enable choice selection of germplasm for rapid crop

More effective accessibility and use of plant genetic resources for crop improvement is essential, since conservation at huge cost without use has little merit. Plant genetic resources of crops especially cotton are conserved for use by people as fibre, food, feed, fuel etc. On the contrary, use without conservation amounts to neglecting the genetic base needed by farmers and breeders alike to increase productivity in the future. To be of use, material held in gene banks must be well documented by adopting all modern techniques as well as field evaluation. Only a very small fraction of the genetic diversity residing in *Gossypium* genus is represented in working collections and improved elite cotton germplasm. Genetic diversity in elite germplasm is reported to be narrow and diversity on the farm is still narrower due to prefer‐ ential planting of successful cultivars and breeding techniques that tend to promote an overreliance on a few genotypes. Considering the narrow genetic base of cultivars and commercially elite germplasm, it would be necessary to exploit the diversity residing in wild, commensal, and landrace cottons of six allo-tetraploid and forty-three diploid species of *Gossypium* genus as it may be rewarding. Resources including recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, back-cross introgression line (BIL) populations, near isogenic introgression line (NIIL) populations, chromosome substitution lines, day-neutral converted race stocks, etc., may also be outsourced from global R & D Centres, conserved and used in Indian gene bank and breeding programmes. The importance of building up new germplasm of breeding value

through proper utilization of gene pools has also been emphasized by [39, 40].

NBPGR New Delhi has established norms for new germplasm registration by the breeders and it could also be got protected under (Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (PPVFRA) especially to protect from poaching and breeders may be encouraged to avail of this and increase their efforts, Guidelines for registration of plant germplasm (revised, 2014) NBPGR, New Delhi. The information could be accessed from NBPGR Website <https:// www.nbpgr.ernet.in.>. The information will also be published in the Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources functioning at its headquarters by the Member Secretary, Plant Germplasm Registration Committee, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource, Pusa Campus, New

**8.6. Registration of newly developed germplasm**

improvement.

112 World Cotton Germplasm Resources

Delhi-110 012,

Cotton is a major global agricultural commodity in the World in over 100 countries including India. Cotton is also a widely preferred natural textile fibre for the industry. India is currently the second largest producer, consumer and exporter of cotton with the second largest textile industry after China. Presently, cotton is produced in a little over 11.5million ha in India and all the four cultivated species (*G. hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. arboreum,* and *G. herbaceum*) are still grown, but *G. hirsutum* cotton predominates in over 90 per cent of the area. From 1970, in addition to varieties, F1 commercial hybrids of *G*. *hirsutum* x *G*. *hirsutum* and in small extent *G*. *hirsutum* x *G*. *barbadense* F1 hybrids were also grown in a sizable area. The diploid interspecies F1 hybrids of *G*. *herbaceum* x *G*. *arboreum* were also developed and made available for cultiva‐ tion, but their cultivation by farmers remained stagnant due to hybrid seed production constraints. Cytoplasmic male sterility based (*G. harknessii*) source with USA based restorer sources were used for developing few *G. hirsutum* x *G*. *hirsutum* hybrids with a view to reduce cost of hybrid seed production and this strategy did not meet with the expected level of success in seed production, area coverage and yield gains. USA line "Gregg GMS" based genetic male sterility was also used for developing a few hybrids and the adoption rate was low for various reasons. A local GMS source was identified in *G*. *arboreum* background for the production of diploid cotton hybrids by the SAU at Hisar (Haryana state), but not much headway was made.

In 2002-2003, the transgenic cotton (genetically modified cotton) was introduced into cultiva‐ tion in India first with Bollgard-I (Cry1Ac) and subsequently the Bollgard-II (Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab) and the transgenic cottons were all based on proprietary germplasm and hybrids were predominantly of *G. hirsutum* x *G. hirsutum* combinations. As a result, predominantly *G. hirsutum* x *G*. *hirsutum* based transgenic cotton hybrids are grown in more than 10.0 million ha corresponding to over 90 per cent of the total area under cotton [16].

Since 1960, the Indian collection has grown with the establishment of the Indian Central Cotton Committee, the All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project, and the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR). In 1976, the Central Institute for Cotton Research was established with a mandate to function as National Centre for Cotton Genetic Resources collection, documentation, and utilization. Hence, the Central Institute for Cotton Research functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, an autonomous body under the Government of India is looking after the major responsibility for collection, conservation, evaluation, characterization, documentation and utilization of cotton genetic resources in India with the National Gene Bank at Nagpur. The CICR is collaborating with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) New Delhi for planning germplasm surveys, exchange, collection and conservation under long term storage facility established for all crops at NBPGR. The entire cotton germplasm collection (total cotton gene pool available in India) is primarily maintained in short and medium storage conditions at the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur and its Regional station at Coimbatore (additional set of *G. barbadense* collection). Funding for the CICR and the NBPGR is provided by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research that is an autonomous organization of the Indian Ministry of Agricul‐ ture-Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), New Delhi.

The total collection exceeding 10, 000 accessions including small additions in the last couple of years represent almost entirely cultivated accessions of *G. hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. arboreum,* and *G. herbaceum*. In addition, the collection also consists of race stock accessions of each cultivated species, 26 wild species, and 32 synthetic introgression derivatives. Long-term storage of cultivated species are managed by NBPGR in New Delhi and maintained at minus 20°C. A working collection of all cultivated accessions, excluding *G. barbadense* accessions, is stored at Nagpur and maintained at 4°C. *G. barbadense* accessions are stored at Coimbatore and maintained. Wild species and race stock working collections are exclusively maintained at Nagpur *in vivo* under natural field conditions as a species garden. Seed of germplasm acces‐ sions are renewed by planned seed increases that include forced self-pollination. The acces‐ sions are multiplied in phases to keep fresh seeds without losing viability for a period of three years under short term storage and for frequent use by the breeders and other scientists.

of transgenic cultivars/hybrids, the maintenance of original (unconverted) germplasm receives priority attention so as not to lose the valuable germplasm collected and maintained over several decades. Molecular marker tools are recommended for the evaluation of germplasm in India for identification of various hidden potentials and some work has already been initiated by certain private seed companies and the NBPGR / the CICR and certain SAUs in

Cotton Germplasm in India — New Trends http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58622 115

The authors are grateful to anonymous reviewers of the manuscript and the book editor for critically going through the manuscript and offering valuable suggestions and editorial

and K. Srinivasu Babu3

[1] Sundaram V. Antiquity of cotton, In: 50 Years of Research at Cotton Technological Research Laboratory; Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India,

[2] Santhanam V, Sundaram V. Historical perspective of cotton in India, In: Hand book of Cotton in India eds. Sundaram V, Basu A K, Krishna Iyer K R, Narayanan S S, Ra‐ jendran T P. pub: Indian Society for Cotton Improvement, Mumbai, 1999, pp.1-17

[3] Sikka, SM. Joshi AB. Cotton breeding-In: Cotton in India, A Monograph-Vol. I. pub:

[4] Fred E Gillham M, Thomas M. Bell, Tijen Arin, Graham A. Matthews, Claude Le Ru‐ meur,, and A. Brian Hear-Cotton Production Prospects for the Next Decade, pub:

Indian Central Cotton Committee, Bombay, India1960 pp. 137-335.

corrections for improving the quality and content of this chapter.

\*Address all correspondence to: narayananss@rediffmail.com

1 Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, India

3 Namdhari Seeds Private Ltd., Bangalore at Hyderabad, India

the country.

**Acknowledgements**

**Author details**

**References**

1974 p. 212.

S.S. Narayanan1\*, Parchuri Vidyasagar2

2 Vibha Seeds Group Ltd; Hyderabad, India

Regular collection expeditions were organized by the National Germplasm Centre in collab‐ oration with the NBPGR in various parts of the country. In recent years, plant explorations have covered a large part of India, and several plant exploration trips are planned through in the future. These include exploration of Mizoram, Sundarban (West Bengal), Assam (Kamroop hills and Jayanti hills), Meghalaya (East Garo Hills), and Tripura. The collection has also grown through exchange with the United States of America, France, Uzbekistan, and Czechoslovakia. The FAO-organized germplasm expeditions also provide opportunities to expand the germplasm collection.

Evaluation and characterization of cultivated germplasm accessions are performed based on cotton descriptors and index card developed by the CICR. Evaluation and characterization of cultivated germplasm include morphological, taxonomical, yield, and yield-contributing characters, fiber quality parameters, and reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses. Basic studies are also performed on the structural variation of gossypol and nectar glands, pollen grains, stigma receptivity, cytogenetic studies, and cross-compatibility among various species (wild and cultivated). Accessions of *G. hirsutum* and *G. arboreum* are evaluated in multi-location evaluation trials conducted at three locations within India (Sirsa, North zone-irrigated; Nagpur, Central zone-rain-fed; and Coimbatore, South zone (irrigated). Accessions are evaluated for yield, boll weight, ginning out-turn fiber properties, and reaction to pests and diseases, and promising genotypes are distributed to breeders and researchers at various cotton research stations and government Institutions within India for research purposes only. Germplasm accession data are maintained by the NBPGR and data are freely available only to Indian government organizations. Official germplasm seed requests are made through NBPGR and a special application form is required to procure exotic germplasm. The NBPGR then determines if a Material Transfer Agreement is already available with the requesting country and makes the necessary correspondence. The seed material is subsequently distrib‐ uted through NBPGR and Central Institute for Cotton Research on the basis of request. New germplasm is also being generated by the CICR and other SAUs and frequently added to the National Gene Bank at CICR. There are gaps, which are sought to be augmented by intercountry exchanges, explorations and from own development through breeding efforts. There is till now no International Institute for Cotton Research under the CGIAR system. In the era of transgenic cultivars/hybrids, the maintenance of original (unconverted) germplasm receives priority attention so as not to lose the valuable germplasm collected and maintained over several decades. Molecular marker tools are recommended for the evaluation of germplasm in India for identification of various hidden potentials and some work has already been initiated by certain private seed companies and the NBPGR / the CICR and certain SAUs in the country.
