Value of Cultivation and Use (VCU) Evaluation of Some New Promising Genotypes of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hisutum L.) in Razavi Khorasan Province

In order to evaluate the value of cultivation and use (VCU) of three new upland cotton genotypes, KC۸۸۰۱, KC۸۸۰۲ (introduced as Kashmar and Khorshid new commercial cultivars respectively), and genotype R۷ in comparisons to three commercial common cultivars Golestan, Khordad and Varamin (as control cultivars) in Khorasan Razavi province, a two-year field experiment conducted based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications. Seed cotton yield and its components, earliness index and some related morphological and fiber quality traits were measured during the ۲۰۱۲-۲۰۱۳ year. The results showed that the weight of the bolls was higher in the second year, and the seed cotton yield was higher in the second year and the earliness index was higher in the first year. Also, genotype R۷ and the new KC۸۸۰۲ genotype had the highest and the lowest fruiting branches number respectively. Both the Khordad control cultivar and KC۸۸۰۲ new genotype had the highest number of bolls (۱۷ bolls), and the KC۸۸۰۱ new genotype had the highest crown diameter and plant height (۱۲۰ cm) during two cropping seasons. Also, in both years, Khordad and Golestan control cultivars had the highest, and KC۸۸۰۲ and KC۸۸۰۱ new genotypes had the lowest number of vegetative branches (۱.۳۲۵ and ۱.۲۵۰ in the first year and ۱.۳۵۵ and ۱.۲۵۵ in the second year respectively). The KC۸۸۰۱ new genotype had higher gin turn-out and fiber strength. Therefore, based on the results, higher plant height and less vegetative branches number and a closed canopy structure, KC۸۸۰۲ and KC۸۸۰۱ new genotypes which lead to means that they can be cultivated with a higher plant density cultivation capability in ultra-narrow row cultivation, their higher field performance expected and are suitable for cultivation in Razavi Khorasan province and similar areas.

Keywords:

Canopy structure , Earliness index , Fiber quality , Seed cotton yield