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 ) × 3 G. hirsutum . at Central Cotton Research Institute,  Multan. The variety gave 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% increase 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 at two consecutive years i.e. 2010-11and 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 will significantly contribute in the cotton industry of production.