Dr. Daryl Bowman is 2005 Cotton Genetics Research Award Recipient

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Dr. Daryl T. Bowman, a professor of Cotton Breeding at North Carolina State University, is the recipient of the 2005 Cotton Genetics Research Award. The announcement was made here today during the Cotton Improvement Conference of the National Cotton Council (NCC)-coordinated 2006 Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

Bowman received $1,000 in recognition of his efforts, which include his leadership in variety testing techniques, statistical analysis of test data, genetic diversity of cotton cultivars and germplasm, host-plant resistance to insect and nematode pests, and genetic tolerance to abiotic stresses. He also is credited with one cotton cultivar release and four cotton germplasm releases.

One of Bowman’s nominator’s, Dr. Jack E. Jones, professor emeritus at Louisiana State University’s agronomy department, said Bowman found time for his extensive quality research in cotton “has to be a testament to his love and dedication to cotton breeding/genetics” because Bowman also conducts variety testing on numerous others crops. “Because of (his) love for cotton and his industrious nature, he has found time or made time for the conduct of important basic research in cotton genetics and breeding that have significantly advanced our state of knowledge in this area.”

Bowman, an agronomy professor at NCSU since 1981, has focused his cotton breeding effort on thrips resistance, nematode tolerance, seedling vigor and drought tolerance. He has published more than 100 scientific journal articles, book chapters, abstracts, extension bulletins and invited papers and maintains an aggressive teaching schedule. Bowman also has provided extensive service to the university and to professional organizations, among them American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s in Agronomy from the University of Georgia and his doctorate in Agronomy from Louisiana State University.

U.S. commercial cotton breeders have presented the Cotton Genetics Research Award for more than 40 years to a scientist for outstanding basic research in cotton genetics. The Joint Cotton Breeding Committee, comprised of representatives from state experiment stations, USDA, private breeders and the NCC, establishes award criteria.