The Hindu Business Line : ‘Develop new ELS cotton genotypes’

Coimbatore, Sept. 9 As part of its research and development efforts to improve genetically extra long staple (ELS) cotton, the Southern India Mills Association’s Cotton Development and Research Association (SIMA-CDRA) has undertaken performance trials of some of the h X b hybrids for its new ELS variety SIMA HB-3 developed by the association.

The trials have shown that the hybrid has recorded fibre characters of 38.99 mm (length), 3.3 micronaire and strength of 32.3 and these trials were conducted in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Based on this, the hybrids are put on trials in Gurajat and Madhya Pradesh as well.

Addressing the 32nd annual general meeting of SIMA-CDRA held here, the outgoing chairman of the association, Mr J. Thulasidaran, said SIMA-CDRA was also attempting to bring out on similar line an ‘intra-hirsutum’ hybrid suitable for rice fallow condition.

SCHH-1 hybrid

The hybrid ‘SCHH-1’ of 125 days duration crop, nominated for all-India coordinated cotton improvement programme trial, is seen promising for realising better benefit-cost ratio. Its seed cotton and lint yields are 30 quintals and 1,015 kg, respectively per hectare.

The crop’s other yield characteristics are: No of bolls between 32-70, average boll weight 4.9 gm, 2.5 per cent span length (30.9mm), micronaire (3.8-4.9 ug/inch), and strength (22.7 g/tex). The crop is found comfortable against jassid, jassid injury, whitefly, and open boll damage in boll/locule.

Low yield

Expressing concern over the continued low yield of ELS cotton against the burgeoning demands by the mills, Mr Thulasidharan noted that the textile mills’ consumption of ELS cotton was put at 10 lakh bales per annum as against the current estimated production of 2.65 lakh bales.

The demand for this variety, as per the textile industry’s vision statement, is to hit 15 lakh bales by 2010 and 20 lakh bales by 2015.

Considering the increasing consumption of ELS cotton, priority must be accorded for developing suitable genotypes matching the international growth in terms of fibre property. New genotypes suitable for 80s, 100s and 120s must be developed, he added.

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