1 New Varieties and US Cotton Quality Kenneth B. Hood Chairman of the National Cotton Council H.B. Hood and Sons Gin & Perthshire Farms Gunnison, MS Kenneth B. Hood Chairman of the National Cotton Council H.B. Hood and Sons Gin & Perthshire Farms Gunnison, MS

2 United States Cotton Belt Perthshire Farms Perthshire Farms

3 Perthshire Farms In the Mississippi Delta

4 Variety Selection Seed variety is the first decision about quality. Seed variety is the first decision about quality.

5 Cotton Quality Seed Variety Weather Pests Management

6 Variations in Quality Due to the Environment

7 New Management Technology Anticipates Crop Needs

8 Technologies Used in Precision Farming Plant Physiology Soil Fertility Canopy Reflectance Remote Sensing/GIS GPS Variable-Rate Application Equipment

9 Remotely Sensed Stress Image and Yield Map

10 Using imagery as a guide, a GPS- equipped applicator can spray only where needed. Miridae (Plant Bug) Spatially-Variable Insecticide Application Less Healthy More Healthy

11 Irrigation Scheduling

12 Varieties Differ Widely Across the United States  Variety and climate variations produce a wide range of fiber qualities

13 Wide Diversity of Choices  Staple Length 1 to 1.44 in.  Strength g/tex  Micronaire (Mic)  Length Uniformity  Staple Length 1 to 1.44 in.  Strength g/tex  Micronaire (Mic)  Length Uniformity

US Cotton Quality As of 11/07/02  White Grade75%  Light Spot Grade22%  Average Micronaire4.6  Average Length34.6(32nd)  Average Strength28(g/tex)  White Grade75%  Light Spot Grade22%  Average Micronaire4.6  Average Length34.6(32nd)  Average Strength28(g/tex)

15 United States Cotton Belt Far West South East Mid South SouthWest

16 Average Mic 2001 Crop

17 Average Length Uniformity Index 2001

18 Average Strength 2001

19 Average Staple Length 2001

20 Emerging Trends in Variety Development

21 New Varieties In Development  Changing needs of textile industry  Growers pressed for high yield (economics) and high quality (customer needs)  Seed companies breeding new genetics that will improve yield and quality to better meet grower and mill needs  Competitive pressure of seed companies  Changing needs of textile industry  Growers pressed for high yield (economics) and high quality (customer needs)  Seed companies breeding new genetics that will improve yield and quality to better meet grower and mill needs  Competitive pressure of seed companies

22 New Varieties Moving into the Market  Germplasm from many global research efforts Bringing new germplasm with unique traits High yield with good fiber quality  Germplasm from many global research efforts Bringing new germplasm with unique traits High yield with good fiber quality

23 Comparison of Experimental Variety With Current Popular Variety  Height of bar is the percent change from commercial variety g/tex 4.3

24 Early-Season Variety Vs. Popular Early Season Variety 55 Locations 2000 to 10/22/2002 % of Current Popular Variety Current Variety = g/tex

25 New Full Season Variety Vs. A Popular Full Season Variety % of Popular Variety Current Variety

26 New Conventional Variety VS. Popular Conventional Variety 96 Locations 1999 to 2002 % of Popular Variety Standard =

27 Biotechnology

28 Has biotechnology affected fiber quality?

29 How do transgenic varieties compare to their conventional counterparts?

30 Official Variety Trials  Conducted by University Scientists  16 states  6 years ( )  422 different location-years  Compared transgenic variety with its parent when planted in the same fields  Conducted by University Scientists  16 states  6 years ( )  422 different location-years  Compared transgenic variety with its parent when planted in the same fields

31 Yield: Transgenic Varieties Vs. Recurrent Parents Source: NCC review of US Official Variety Trials % of Parent

32 Fiber Strength: Transgenic Vs. Recurrent Parents Source: NCC review of US Official Variety Trials % of Parent

33 Staple Length: Transgenic Vs. Recurrent Parents Source: NCC review of US Official Variety Trials % of Parent

34 Micronaire: Transgenic Vs. Recurrent Parents Source: NCC review of US Official Variety Trials % of Parent

35 Length Uniformity Transgenic Vs. Recurrent Parents Source: NCC review of US Official Variety Trials % of Parent

36 Conclusion  Varieties are improving in both yield and quality  Technology for managing plant stress also is improving  DNA transformation has not caused a fiber quality change  Varieties are improving in both yield and quality  Technology for managing plant stress also is improving  DNA transformation has not caused a fiber quality change