Cotton Research Institute of Iran
(CRII) at a glance
Agricultural Research, Education and
Extension Organization (AREEO) is the largest responsible body for
agricultural research, education and extension in ministry of Agricultur Jahad of Iran.
In 1936-1959, Varamin Plant Breeding Corporation was the
only responsible body for cotton research in Iran. After the establishment of
Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) in 1959, the research activities on
cotton was moved under the management of SPII in the Cotton Research
Department.
Regarding the national
importance of cotton in textile and oil industries, in 1997, the Cotton
Research Institute of Iran (CRII) was established in the Northern region of
Iran, Gorgan, coordinates basic and applied researches along with the
development activities on cotton in order to enhanc the productivity and
profitability of cotton farmers and the added value chain associated with
cotton. CRII has closely cooperated with other institutes in research, farming,
industry, and technology.
Main responsibilities
of the CRII includes: development of high yielding varieties, good quality fiber,
disease and pest resistant varieties for various regions of Iran, improvement
of seed quality and formulate the production technology for cotton under different
changing climates.
Missions
of the CRII
·
Developing
cotton research towards the introduction of improved cultivars suitable for
different environmental conditions throughout the country
·
Development of
appropriate farming/cropping system for different cotton growing zones and
their effective management
·
Conserving
Cotton germplasm
·
Development of
effective and efficient disease, pest and weed management strategies
·
The direction
of researches in cotton breeding, agronomy, biotechnology and seed technology
·
Development and
production of cotton seed nucleus
·
Providing
training courses and workshops in cotton production and also transferring of
research findings to extension agencies, experts and farmers by the cooperation
of extension and education services
Achievements of CRII
·
Releasing of 12 cotton cultivars including
Sepid, Khordad, Golestan, Armaghan, Khorshid, Kashmar, Latif, Shayan, Sajedi,
Hekmat, Partov and Taban
·
Identification
of bio-ecology of cotton pests and diseases
·
Monitoring and
controlling of quarantined pests and diseases
·
Increasing of
cotton water productivity by optimizing of irrigation methods
·
Preparation of
digital soil fertility maps for all Golestan agricultural service centers
·
Projecting of semi-
mechanized machine of cotton harvester for small farms
·
Feasibility of
cotton transplanting in Iran
·
Development of
cotton based on conservation agriculture in Iran
·
Enhancement of
cotton germplasm collection from 190 to more than 450 germline
·
Nucleus seed
production for at least 14 cotton cultivars at different stations
·
Using peaceful
nuclear energy to produce two mutant varieties (Taban and Partov)
Important Research Topics
·
Cotton varieties improvement
·
Abiotic stresses (drought and salinity)
·
Enhancing water use efficiency
·
Pest and diseases resistance
·
Cotton yield and quality improvement
·
Agronomical, physiological and ecological studies in
cotton plants
·
Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies
Structure of the CRII
There are five research departments in CRII headquarters
located in Gorgan, namely; Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Protection, Agricultural
Engineering and Research Technical Services in Gorgan. It has one research department
in Varamin and 14 research stations in the different cotton production areas of
Iran. Cotton Research Institute of Iran is responsible for providing all
research priorities and activities at the national level. Main station of CRII
is Hashemabad Cotton Research Station for breeding research and for studying of
cultivar resistant to Verticillium wilt, other disease and pests is Karkandeh Cotton
Research Station.