WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CFMC/W/29 
15 May 2008 
 
 (08-2238) 
  
 Original:   English 
  
DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK 
MECHANISM ON COTTON 
 
Cotton Projects
1 
 
Communication from Uganda 
  
 The following communication, dated 17 July 2007, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Uganda.  
_______________ 
  
PROJECT N° 3 - RESEARCH FOR INCORPORATING RESISTANCE TO 
WILTS IN UGANDA COTTON 
  
I. JUSTIFICATION 
1. Since 1995, the Uganda cotton production has b een constrained by cotton wilt diseases.  The 
wilts have been found to be spreading in all th e 9 seed multiplication zones and especially in the low 
fertility production areas.  The causes of the wilts have  been established by the initial research to be 
due to  Fusarium  and V eticillium fungi.  The attacks are further aggravated by presence of root knot 
nematodes ( Melanodogyne spp ) which facilitate entry of the fungi into the cotton roots. 
2. The research programme in 1999 acquired from the University of Texas A&M, in USA 
germplasm with various forms of resistance (Multi Adversity Resistance – MAR) to the two fungi, to 
bacterial blight and to nematodes.  Crosses have  been made to Uganda cottons in attempt to 
incorporate the resistance into th e Uganda cottons which are adopted for yield and good fibre quality. 
3. There is need now to perfect laboratory and glasshouse screening techniques for resistance to 
the fungi and nematodes.  Further, there is need  to undertake multi-season and multi-locational testing 
of the already advanced generations of the cr osses for assessing their yield and fibre quality 
performance prior to their release as new varie ties resistant to the wilts and nematodes. 
4. The pathology laboratory is available for use at  Serere.  There is however need for a green 
house since it is not desirable to conduct screening trials  in yet safe fields which would lead to further 
spread of the disease.  Screening for resistance could however  also be done in known infested fields 
or “Sick plots”. 
 
                                                     
 
1 This project was distributed amongst the Development Community by e-mail on 31 August 2007. WT/CFMC/W/29 
Page 2  
 
  II. OBJECTIVES 
(a) To identify the specific races of th e wilt causative fungi and nematodes. 
(b) To develop appropriate screening methods for plant resistance to cotton wilts and 
nematodes. 
(c) To furnish the pathology laboratory with equipment and reagents for screening for 
resistance to wilts. 
(d) To evaluate the advanced line crosses between Uganda and MAR cottons for 
resistance to wilts, yield and fibre quality. 
(e) To release new resistant vari eties into production areas. 
III. DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ACTIVITIES/COMPONENTS 
(a) Construction of a glasshouse for simulating field screening for resistance to cotton 
wilts and nematodes. 
(b) Developing methods for screening for resistance to the wilts and nematodes. 
(c) Identifying the specific races of the Fusarium  and Verticillum  fungi and nematodes in 
the Uganda cotton fields. 
(d) Multi-season and multi-location testing of the advance generations of Uganda x MAR 
cotton crosses for yield, resistance to wilts and fibre quality. 
(e) Data analysis of the evaluation trials and selection of new varieties resistant to the 
wilts and nematodes. 
(f) Multiplying nucleus and foundation seed for release to segregated seed multiplication 
areas. 
IV. EXPECTED RESULTS 
(a) Glass house for screening for cotton resistance to wilts and nematodes constructed. 
(b) Techniques for laboratory and glasshouse screening for resistance developed. 
(c) Races of the wilt causing fungi and nematodes in Uganda identified. 
(d) Advanced crosses of Uganda x MAR Cott on over seasons and locations evaluated 
and selected. 
(e) New high yielding and high fibre quality cotto n varieties with resistance to wilts, 
bacterial blight and nematodes formally released. 
(f) Nucleus and foundation seed of new varieties multiplied. 
  WT/CFMC/W/29 
 Page 3 
 
 
  V. COST = US$  387,000 
Year 1 US$   32,500 
Year 2 US$   90,000 
Year 3 US$   95,000 
Year 4 US$   80,000 
Year 5 US$   90,000 
TOTAL US$ 387,000 
 
VI. ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED 
Construction on screening green house US$     7,500 
Development of screening techniques US$   30,000 
Identification of fungal races and nematodes US$   30,000 
Multi-season and locational evaluation of cotton lines US$ 170,000 
Breeder plots, nucleus and founda tion seed multiplication US$ 150,000 
TOTAL US$ 387,000 
 
VII. FINANCIAL PLANNING OF  PROJECT ACTIVITIES 
 
VIII.  DURATION:  five years. 
IX. LOCATION AND IMPLEMENTING AGENCY :  NARO : Serere Agricultural Research 
Institute (field, pathology lab and green house); CDO (HVI fibre testing). 
X. PARTNERS:  APEP- USAID;  UGCEA;  SEACF;  ICAC. 
 
__________ 
 Activity to be funded Amount (US$ thousands) 
 Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Total 
Construction of green house 7.5 - - - - 7.5 
Developing screening techniques 15 10 5 - - 30 
Identification of fungal races and 
nematodes Spps 10 10 10 - - 30 
Evaluation trials of resistant lines - 50 50 40 30 170 
Breeders, nucleus and foundation seed 
multiplication - 20 30 40 60 150 
TOTAL 32.5 90 95 80 90 387.5