DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH YIELDING AND CLCuV RESISTANT ULPAND COTTON VARIETY "CIM-608".

The new variety CIM-608 has been developed through interspecific hybridization i.e. 2 (Gossypium hirsutum × G. anomalum) × 3G. hirsutum. at Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan. The variety produced significantly higher yield in varietal trials compared with standard variety i.e. MNH-786. CIM-608 was also evaluated in varietal and Zonal Varietal Trials at farmers' fields and Govt. Farms. In varietal trials CIM-608 gave 33.7%, and 8.97% more yield over commercial varieties MNH-786 and CIM-554, respectively for seed cotton yield. While in Zonal varietal trial during 2010-11, CIM-608 gave 2828 Kg ha-1 yield of seed cotton as compared to standard variety CIM-554 (2600 Kg ha-1). In National Co-ordinated Varietal Trial (NCVT), CIM-608 dominated over most existing varieties/strains in two consecutive years i.e. 2010-11 and 2011-12 for seed cotton yield. This variety showed tolerance to Burewala Strain of cotton leaf curl virus (BSCuV). CIM-608 has combination of characters including CLCuV tolerance, earliness, and heat tolerance with good fibre characteristics. The presented variety of G. hirsutum L. will significantly contribute in the cotton industry of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]