Comparative performance of various advance cotton strains as tested in 2014 - 2015 National Coordinated Varietal Trials (NCVT) of Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC)

Abstract

Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) has been delegated the authority, by Nationa l Seed" "Council. to conduct National Coordinated Varietal Trials (NCVT)on its beha(/ eve1y year with the objective to screen high yie lding and stress resistant advance strains of cotton meeting national fiber  standards tested and trialed at all agro -ecological zones of the national cotton belt. During the crop year 2014 -15,.fifty-two (52) strains including 12 non-Bl, 40 Bl (38 OPVs and 2 Hybrids) were tested against standard commercial varieties at twelve locations throughout the cotton belt of Pakistan.  Total thirty two (32) strains(J O non -Bl  and 22 Bt) were developed by public  sector breeders and twenty (20) strains  (two non-Bt, sixteen Bt and two Bt hybrid)  were submitted by private sector breeders for  testing. These strains were divided into four  sets. Set -A  comprised of non-Bt strains, Set-B were of  Bt strains.fivm public sector breeders, Set-C Bt strains.from private sector breeders and Set-D contained Bt hybrids. From non-Bt strains TH-120 was on top with the national  average yield  2795kg per  hectare. From public  sector  Bl  Strains  FH -Lalazar gave highest seed-cot/on yield i.e. 327J kg per hectare. Toppe1forming Bt strainfr om private sector was Crystal-I  with average national production  of 2896kg per  hectare. Hybrid  Al -seemi H-Bt-209 produced 2778 kg per hectare seed cotton yield. All strain almost showed GOT'-'  and otherfiber characteristics  higher than the recommended standards.  Biochemical  tests from four  reference labs indicated that 49 transgenic  lines contained  Crylac gene  (event MON -53J)and  expressed appropriate   toxic  protein    levels   (0.422-2.389ug!g   of  fi· esh   leaves   tested   80   days   after planting.Three strains viz. CEMB-66 and CEMB-77 and CA-526 werefound  10 contain two insect­ resistant genes (C1ylAc and Oy2A)that were developed by the Centre of Excellencefor  Molecular Biology."