Jinfa Zhang1, Roy Cantrell2, Cindy Waddell1, Ed Hughs3, Robert P. Flynn4, and Carroll A. French4. (1) Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, MSC 3Q, Las Cruces, NM 88003, (2) Cotton Incorporated, 6399 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513, (3) USDA-ARS, Southwestern Cotton Ginning Laboratory, PO Box 578, 300 E. College Dr., Las Cruces, NM 88047, (4) New Mexico State University, Extension Plant Sciences, 67 E. Four Dinkus Rd., Artesia, NM 88210
Acala 1517-99W was derived from the cross of Acala 1517-99/Phy72W and then backcrossed three times using Acala 1517-99 as the recurrent parent. Phy 72W was Acala germplasm line containing two Bt genes (Cry 1Ac and Cry 1F). Acala 1517-99W is a bulk selection out of 100 progeny rows in BC3F4 based on plant type, yield potential, and fiber quality. The bulked progeny had 9.7% higher lint yield than its recurrent parent, Acala 1517-99, while maintained the fiber quality traits. Acala 1517-99W has been extensively tested in Mesilla Valley, and also tested in Pecos Valley, NM in 2003, 2004 and 2005. On average, Acala 1517-99W has exhibited 9% higher lint yield (1680.3 kg ha-1 vs. 1,547.7 kg ha-1) than Acala 1517-99 in the five field trials conducted in NM from 2003 to 2005. In both Mesilla Valley (Las Cruces) and Pecos Valley (Artesia), Acala 1517-99W showed consistently higher yield (5.9-12.3%) than Acala 1517-99. But the differences were insignificant.This new cultivar was released for New Mexico growers in 2005 and gained 13.4% acreage in 2006.
