Agronomic Evaluations of New Transgenic and Non Transgenic Cotton Varieties in La Paz and Mohave Counties

Abstract

In 1996 transgenic Bt cotton was first grown on a commercial level in Arizona. In 1997 transgenic Roundup and Buctril herbicide resistant cotton varieties were introduced and grown on commercially in Arizona. Furthermore, in 1997, four new heat tolerant non- transgenic cotton varieties for commercial release in 1998 were available for University field tests. Prior to 1997, the agronomic characteristics of these new cotton varieties had not been evaluated inside by side replicated field comparisons beyond the level of the developing companies. Field tests were conducted in La Paz and Mohave Counties in 1997 examining agronomic characteristics of new transgenic Bt ( Deltapine 5415 vs. Deltapine 32 B and 33B) and herbicide resistant (Paymaster 1220 BGRR vs. 1244 BGRR and Stoneville 474 vs. BXN 47) and non transgenic heat tolerant (SureGrow 125 vs. 180 and 821, Stoneville 474 vs. 468, and Germain's GC 9230) cotton varieties.