Comparison of Obsolete and Modern Varieties in View to Stagnancy in Yield of Cotton (G. hirsutum L.)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was conducted in 2001, 2002 and 2003 at Cotton Research Station, Multan. The genetic material comprised of thirty-two varieties of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) viz., 362F, 4F, S-14, CIM-446, MNH-552, MNH-554, FH-634, CIM-1100, MS-240, S-12, NIAB-Karishma, MNH-93, NIAB-78, CIM-448, FH-682, CIM-443, FH-900, B-557, MNH-329, SLS-1, CIM-109, MNH-147, FH-1000, 149-F, AC-134, CIM-70, FH-901, Rehmani, CIM-240, CIM-473, BH-118 and CIM-499. The design of the experiment was Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The sowing was done by dibbling three seeds per hill to ensure uniform stand, latter thinned to one plant per hill. Each experimental plot comprised of three row of 3.3 m length and with 30 cm plant to plant distance. The row to row distance was kept 75 cm. The inputs such as water, fertilizer and pest control were applied in optimum quantity and time. Crop growth and development measurements were taken throughout season.

Ginning of individual plant was carried out in laboratory, by roller machine and data was recorded for GOT percentage and staple length.

The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis^[8].

Historical data for seed cotton yield, GOT and staple length of top three high yielding varieties was collected from National Coordinated Varietal Trial (NCVT) conducted in Multan region at seven locations during the years 1986 to 2003. The mean values of seven locations were used for comparison.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Analysis of variance for Node of First Fruiting Branch (NFBr), Monopodial branches per Plant (MP), Days taken to First Flower (DFF), Seed cotton yield, Ginning out turn (GOT) and Staple Length (SL) are presented in Table 1, which indicated significant differences among varieties for all traits except seed cotton yield.

The differences among years were non-significant for all traits under study except monopodial branches per plant and seed cotton yield. Non-significant differences due to variety indicated that the genetic constitution of new varieties developed and approved for general cultivation has not improved for seed cotton yield. Seed cotton yield of FH-1000 and AC-134 was 2703.55 and 2821.0 kg ha^-1, respectively (Table 2). The variety FH-1000 was approved in 2001 and AC-134 in 1956, the differences for seed cotton yield was non significant (Table 1 and 2). The differences due to year were significant for seed cotton yield indicating that climatic/growing conditions played an important role.

The physical features that determine the yield of a cotton plant include the number of bolls per plant or per unit area, the size of boll (boll weight) and percentage of lint. It has been estimated that increase of 1% ginning out turn is equivalent to 3% increase in seed cotton yield^[9].

The number of bolls depends upon retention percentage, which is effected by water stress, excessive nitrogen fertilizer, genetic constitution and climatic condition (day night temperature, humidity and rainfall). The main damage to bud, squares and boll is caused by insect (sucking and bollworms). The availability of water is same but the use of nitrogen fertilizer has increased 59.2% from 1993 to 2003^[10] and the use of pesticide has increased 10410% from 1980 to 2002^[11]. The import of pesticide was 665 tonnes in 1980 and 69897 metric tones during 2002^[11].

Seed cotton yield of Pakistan has increased 730.37% during 1978 to 2002 as production increased from 11,06,000 in 1978 to 1,00,48,000 bales during 2003-04^[10].

Table 1:	Mean squares of different traits of cotton varieties at Cotton Research Station, Multan for 2001-2002.2003
*= Significant, NS= Non-significant, NFFBr=Node of 1st fruiting branch, MBr=Monopodial branches, DFF=Days to 1st flower, GOT=Ginning outturn percentage, SL=Staple length

Table 2:	Average performance of varieties for different traits at Cotton Research Station Multan for 2001, 2002, 2003
F ratio non-significant

This increase in yield is mainly due to use of more nitrogen fertilizer and pesticide in Pakistan. But low yield differences in last decade indicated that the management strategies have reached to optimal level due to which lint yield of country is stagnant. Now it is challenge for cotton breeders to change the genetic constitution of cotton plant in such a way that it responds positively to higher doses of nitrogen fertilizer and resist insect damages to certain extent for increased lint production. As the production during 1991-92 was 12.8 million bales and 10.04 million bales in 2003^[10].

The significant variation among the varieties for NFFBr, MBr, DFF, GOT and Staple Length indicated that the breeder has changed the genetic constitution of the plant for these traits. The node of first fruiting branch, number of monopodial branches (vegetative) and days taken to first flower are three main morphological feature to determine the earliness of cotton plant^[12].In this respect, breeders have succeeded to accumulate earliness-related traits in recent cotton varieties (Table 2). From the perusal of Table 2, it is evident that the obsolete varieties (AC-134, MS-40, 4F) have first fruiting branch above thirteenth node while modern varieties (N-78, CIM-109, FH-901, CIM-443, MNH-552) has first fruiting branch below eighth node. Similarly AC-134, 4F and MS-40 have more than 4 monopodial branches per plant while modern varieties (mentioned above) have less than two monopodial branches per plant. The obsolete varieties took nearly 69 days while modern varieties took about 51 days to first flower. These three features indicated that breeder has improved a lot for these three traits, which determine the earliness of crop and helped the cotton plant to exhibit positive response to high nitrogen fertilizer. Due to early entry into reproductive phase (52 days) plant require more photosynthates to maintain the vegetative growth and boll filling^[13,14]. This genetic modification in cotton plant has lead to increased use of nitrogen fertilizers. The improvement in earliness played an important role in early sowing of wheat especially in Punjab where cotton wheat rotation is followed.

The ultimate objective of cotton cultivation is lint production. The modern varieties (developed in last decade) have GOT more than 38%, as compared to obsolete varieties (AC-134, 4F, B-557 and MS-40), which has GOT less than 32 percent. Ginning outturn percent is one of the important factor contributing towards increased lint production. As the GOT of present varieties remained constant or less than S-12 due to which the lint production of Pakistan showed decreased or stagnant trend for last 12 years. It is also evident from NCVT data that S-12 showed highest GOT as compared to all varieties that exhibited highest seed cotton yield in NCVT conducted in Multan region from 1986-87 to 2003-04 (Fig. 1).

It is evident from Fig. 1 that MNH-93, S-12 and NIAB-78 showed highest seed cotton yield during 1987-88, 90-91 in NCVT trials conducted in Multan region and were approved for general cultivation by Government of Pakistan and all the other varieties that were approved in latter years upto 2004 have low seed cotton yield in NCVT than the above mentioned three varieties. These varieties also have lesser GOT percentage than S-12 (Fig. 2).

The fiber length is an important quality trait, which determines spinning ability. The improvement in staple length in Pakistan cotton is remarkable. The staple length of cotton varieties cultivated in Pakistan falls in medium group of fiber length (27.0-30.0 mm). The variety CIM-499 has highest staple length (29.8mm; in NCVT during 2001-2002) among the varieties so far approved for general cultivation in Pakistan. The all other varieties that approved for general cultivation from 1986-2003 have staple length ranging from 27.5 to 28.3 mm (Fig. 3). From the Table 2, it is also evident that obsolete varieties (4F, AC-134 and MS-40) have staple length 26.9 mm while modern varieties (CIM-499, MNH-554) have 28.0 mm staple length.

Fig. 1:	Seed cotton yield of different varieties of cotton

Fig. 2:	Ginning outturn of different varieties of cotton

Fig. 3:	Staple length of different varieties of cotton

It is concluded from present discussion that cotton breeders have changed the genetic constitution of cotton plant for earliness (Node of first fruiting branch, Monopodial branches and Days taken to first flower), lint percentage and fiber length.

But there is still room to improve seed cotton yield and its components and For this purpose conventional and non-conventional (Introgression, hybridization, genetic engineering, mutation, embryo culture etc.) methods should be used to get break-through for seed cotton yield and its fiber length and other quality traits.