Testing of New Strains of VT-1, VT-2, VT-3, VT-4, MVT-1, MVT-2, MVT-3, MVT-4, MVT-5. NCVT, SVT1, SVT-2, Selection and Early Generation Testing in Cotton Genotypes in Crop Year 2022-2023

lant Breeding & Genetics Section develops new cotton varieties or lines with desirable fibre traits equipped with inbuilt resistance/tolerance against insect-pest and diseases by utilizing purposeful breeding (crossing) of closely or distantly related genotypes. Plants are cross-bred to introduce traits/genes from one variety or line into a new genetic background. The promising hybrids, Bt. and non-Bt.. strains (in coded form) of all the cotton breeders of the country were evaluated under National Coordinated Variety Testing (NCVT) Program of Pakistan Central Cotton Committee. The prominent commercial varieties (Bt. and non-Bt..) were also tested for their performance under the local agro-climatic conditions of Multan zone in standard varietal trials. The breeding materials in different filial generations were screened out for selection into next generation. Major emphasis was laid on the selection of material having resistance/tolerance against biotic (Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV),Pink boll worm etc) and abiotic factors (tolerance against heat-drought and Glyphosate etc) with excellent fibre characteristics. The genetic stock of World Cotton collections comprising of 6243 cultivars of four species of Gossypium from 41 countries of the World are being preserved for short (25 years), medium (50 years) and long (100 years) duration as well as for utilization in breeding program by cotton breeders in the country and abroad. Promising lines i.e. Bt.CIM-990 and Bt.CIM-909 developed by utilizing USDA and local cotton germplasm material were tested for second and first years respectively in NCVT. Trainings were also imparted to small farmers, progressive growers from core and non-core zones of the cotton belts along with technical staffs of different seed companies. Students from different universities were also trained thorough internship training program. Summary of above mentioned activities are given below.