Aims: 1. Identify the most appropriate cotton plant types or varieties for dry season production in NW Australia based on characteristics of yield, quality and maturity 2. Investigate the effects of specific agronomic/ physiological factors on cotton growth and performance in the dry season and integrate those factors into a robust agronomic package tailored to the most appropriate varieties 3. Develop and evaluate pest management systems with minimal inputs of pesticide, maximal use of natural mortality factors based on transgenic cottons expressing Bt genes for management of Lepidopteran pests. 4. Integrate appropriate varieties , agronomy and pest management to provide a technological package for the establishment of an irrigated dry season cotton production system in NW Australia.