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Home Page: http://pwa.ars.usda.gov/shafter/srec/default.htm

Mission:
The mission of the Western Integrated Cropping Systems Research Unit is to develop and transfer interdisciplinary technologies that enable economically feasible and environmentally sound methods for the production of crops in the arid regions of the Western U.S. Research using remote sensing and geospatial technologies is conducted to identify and locate management regions within fields for site-specific application of farming inputs such as fertilizers, amendments, insecticides and irrigation. These technologies will also be used to facilitate investigations about pest insect overwintering habitat and the influence of the agricultural landscape on crop infestation patterns. Biological controls such as microbial pesticides and parasites are being developed that may provide specific and selective control agents for the major insect pests of cotton. Traditional and molecular genetics are used to identify, map, and follow novel traits that can be used in elite cotton germplasm to enhance cotton yield and quality or resist fungal and insect pests. Using molecular markers, genome linkage relationships are determined for important traits, candidate genes, or quantitative trait loci. Integrating these markers into the breeding program should expedite the broadening of the genetic base of cotton.