Uniform Stacked Gene Cotton Variety Trials in South and Central Texas

Variety selection is the most important decision made during the year. Unlike herbicide or insecticide decisions that can be changed during the season to address specific conditions and pests, variety selection is made only once and that selection will dictate the management of that field for the entire season. Variety decisions should be based on genetics first, and transgenic technology second. Attention should be focused on agronomic characteristics such as yield, maturity and fiber quality when selecting varieties. Texas producers planted 4.9 million acres in 2008 which was similar to 2007. In the east/south Texas regions (Coastal Bend, Upper Gulf Coast, Brazos River Valley and Blacklands) 714,000 acres were planted in 2008. Transgenic varieties accounted for 90% of the state acreage in 2008 (87% in 2007). In the east/south Texas production area, 21 % of acres were Roundup Ready Bollgard, 34% Roundup Ready Flex Bollgard II, 28% Liberty Link and 17% Conventional cotton varieties. According to the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service “Cotton Varieties Planted 2008 Crop” survey for the Corpus Christi Classing Office area, these were the top-10 varieties for the region: Fiber Max 840 B2RF – 15%, Fiber Max 832 – 14%, Fiber Max 835 LLB2 – 10%, Delta Pine 555 BGRR – 8%, Fiber Max 832 LL – 7%, Fiber Max 955 LLB2 - 7%, Fiber Max 958 LL – 4, Deltapine 143 B2RF - 4%, Deltapine 444 BGRR – 3%, Deltapine 164 B2RF – 3%. To assist Texas cotton producers in remaining competitive in the Coastal Bend, Upper Gulf Coast, Brazos River Valley, and the Southern Blacklands regions we have been conducting uniform, large plot, on-farm, replicated variety trials for the past five years. We believe this approach provides a good foundation of information that can be utilized to begin the decision making process.