FH-444: A HIGH YIELDING AND SUPERIOR FIBER QUALITY UPLAND COTTON VARIETY SUITABLE FOR COTTON GROWING AREAS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

FH-444 is a new Bt cotton variety which was released during the year 2020-21 by Cotton Research Station, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, for irrigated areas of Punjab, Pakistan to maintain fiber quality and production through gradually replacement of existing cotton cultivars to avoid the yield losses caused by insect, pest and unexpected disease attacks. The FH-444 possesses drought tolerance and very good combination of traits to meet the requirements of the farmers, pickers, ginners, spinners and textile industry. The evaluation of this promising line was started during 2011-12 in different yield tests viz: preliminary & advance yield trials, Provincial Coordinated Cotton Trial (PCCT), National Coordinated Varietal Trial (NCVT), Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) Trial, Agronomic trials, 1.25 Acre trials etc. In preliminary yield trials, FH-444 showed 45.96% increase in yield (3592 kg/ha) over standard variety FH-113 (2461 kg/ha) during 2011-12 while in advanced yield trials, FH-444 exhibited 23.61% increase in yield (3408 kg/ha) over standard variety FH-113 (2757 kg/ha) during 2013-14. It was also found that the effects of Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD) were low (1.7 %) in FH-444 during growing season of 2014-15, while FH-142 showed increased incidence of attack (4.9%). FH444 demonstrated significant resistance with respect to thrips, whitefly, jassid and pink bollworm infestation. In present study it was found that the variety FH-444 possesses higher yield potential and will contribute to improve cotton yield and production under different stress conditions.