COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SOME NOVEL VS COMMERCIAL COTTON GENOTYPES AGAINST INSECT PEST COMPLEX AND CLCuV FOR SEED COTTON YIELD AND FIBRE TRAITS

Abstract

Performance of eight genotypes of cotton (AGC-501, BH-185, NIAB-874B, MNH886, FH-312, CIM-616, IUB-75 and IR-NIBGE-6) was tested at Cotton Research Station, Multan, Pakistan during 2014 against insect pest complex and CLCuV for seed cotton yield and fibre traits. The genotype AGC-501 was found to be resistant against jassid (Amrasca bigutella bigutella) having 0.27, whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) 1.87 and Thrips (Thrips tabaci) 1.00 individuals per leaf. Genotype BH-185 was found to be susceptible having Jassid 0.73, whitefly 4.27 and thrips 7.20 individuals per leaf alongwith spotted bollworm (Earias spp.) 0.33 larvae per plant. The genotypes NIAB-874B and IUB-75 had also 0.33 and 0.27 larvae of spotted bollworm per plant. Others genotypes had zero population of spotted bollworm (Earias spp.). Regarding pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) larvae the genotypes AGC-501 had maximum and MNH-886 had minimum population of pink bollworm larvae i.e. 88.8 and 31.3 percent in left over bolls. The virus incidence was more on the genotypes FH312 (98%) and less on genotypes CIM-616 (48%). Highest ginning outturn (GOT) and fibre strength was recorded on the genotype FH-312 (47.6% and 34.3 g/tex). Regarding staple length and fineness of lint, it was found that maximum staple length was recorded in genotypes MNH-988 (24.9mm) and fineness in MNH-886 (6.0 µg/inch) when compared with standard staple length and fineness of lint. Higher yield was recorded in CIM-616 i.e. 17.81 maunds per acre. Our results suggested that breeders should consider ginning out turn (GOT), fibre strength, staple length and fineness of lint for the evaluation of new varieties in the best interest of growers' community. Further this study provides an opportunity for cotton stakeholders to choose tolerant varieties so that indiscriminate insecticide sprays can be reduced.