What Are the New Cotton Varieties? A Practical Guide to Seed Selection for Cotton Growers
1. Hongtaiyang 2
A new conventional cotton variety. In 2005 it was approved by the **Uyghur Autonomous Region Crop Variety Approval Committee (approval number: Xinshenmian 2005027), and in the same year was listed by the Ministry of Agriculture's National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center as a "National Cotton Display Variety" (demonstration number: Guoshifan 2005022).
Characteristics: growth period 135-140 days, an early-to-mid maturing type variety; strong growth vigor, open plant architecture, medium-sized leaves, relatively abundant leaf hairs, strong boll setting, good early maturity; single boll weight 6.0 g; lint percentage 44%; pre-frost boll rate 88%.
Fiber quality: fiber length 31.2 mm, strength 29.6 cn/tex, Micronaire value 4.3, fiber color pure white.
Disease resistance: identified by the Autonomous Region Plant Protection Station; in surveys at the peak disease period during the growth stage, immune to Fusarium wilt, highly resistant to Verticillium wilt.
Comprehensive evaluation: high yield: 10%-15% higher yield than Zhongmian 35; large bolls: boll weight over 6 g; outstanding disease resistance: highly resistant to Fusarium and Verticillium wilt.
Suitable areas: **southern Xinjiang and eastern Xinjiang early-to-mid maturing cotton regions.
2. Hongtaiyang 4 (demonstration variety)
A new conventional cotton variety bred by **Hongtaiyang Technology Co., Ltd.; entered the **Autonomous Region regional trial in 2006.
Characteristics: early-to-mid maturing, full growth period 138 days, rapid early development, vigorous yet steady growth, fruiting branches pointing upward, thick sturdy stems, strong boll setting, easy and concentrated boll opening, single boll weight 6.0 g, lint percentage 42%, seed index about 2 g, good yielding ability, few superfluous buds, saving time and labor in management. Strong disease resistance in the later stage, long leaf functional period.
Fiber quality: fiber length 30.1 mm, specific strength 29.9 CN/tex, Micronaire value 4.6.
Disease resistance: highly resistant to Fusarium wilt, resistant to Verticillium wilt.
3. Nankang 3
A new transgenic hybrid cotton variety jointly bred by Nanjing Hongtaiyang Seed Industry and collaborating units. In 2005 it passed national approval (approval number: Guoshenmian 2005012); a key cotton variety for demonstration and promotion by the Ministry of Agriculture, and submitted for the National Invention Award.
Characteristics: growth period about 140 days, an early-to-mid maturing upland cotton variety; plant shaped like a pagoda, relatively compact plant architecture, strong boll setting, easy boll opening, single boll weight 6.0 g, lint percentage 42%.
Fiber quality: fiber pure white, silky luster, 2.5% span length 30 mm, strength
29.1 cn/tex, Micronaire value 4.3.
Disease resistance: resistant to Fusarium wilt, tolerant to Verticillium wilt.
4. Hongtaiyang 3 (demonstration variety)
A new transgenic high-yield hybrid cotton variety bred by **Hongtaiyang Technology Development Co., Ltd.; entered the **Uyghur Autonomous Region regional trial in 2006.
Characteristics: growth period 140 days, relatively loose plant architecture, thick sturdy stems, medium leaves, dark green leaf color, relatively early boll setting, strong boll setting, oval bolls, thin boll hulls, easy and concentrated boll opening, large bolls, single boll weight 7.0 g, lint percentage 41%, seed index 11 g.
Fiber quality: 2.5% span length 31.2 mm, specific strength 31.2 CN/tex, elongation 6.8%, Micronaire value 4.5.
Disease resistance: highly resistant to Fusarium wilt, resistant to Verticillium wilt.