UGA Cotton Extension Program Guy D. Collins, Ph.D. Extension Cotton Agronomist University of Georgia Tifton, GA

2010…Replacing DP 555 BG/RR DP 555 BG/RR planted on approximately % of cotton acres in GA during 2009 Total 2009 GA cotton acreage = 990,000 Dealers allotted 33 % of 2009 DP 555 BG/RR for GA cotton acreage = 1,250,000 In 2010, an estimated 900,000+ acres will be planted to new/other varieties

Variety selection criteria YIELD potential YIELD stability Technology Fiber quality Maturity and plant growth characteristics

Late Varieties – Irr. & Dryland - by technology Lint Yield (lbs/A)

2009 GA County Trials – Dryland (Burke, Candler, Colquitt, Early, Jefferson, Lowndes, SE Gin) Inconsistency among varieties tested at each location….difficult to evaluate!! Lint Yield (lbs/A)

Uniform County Variety Trial Program 15 trial sites and 22 cooperating agents Training / mentoring program for younger agents Funds to support plant growth evaluation and harvest equipment Similar trial for Dr. Peng Chee’s conventional lines

____________Irrigated____________________Dryland________ Avg Yield - locs combined Variety BainbridgeMidvillePlainsTiftonMidvillePlainsTifton FM 1740 B2RF DG 2570 B2RF R619 B2R DP 0920 B2RF PHY 370 WR DP 0935 B2RF DP 0924 B2RF DP 0912 B2RF ST 5288 B2F PHY 367 WRF CG 3220 B2RF ST 4498 B2RF AM1550 B2RF PHY 375 WRF ST 4288 B2F GA Cotton OVT Consistency & Variability – Top 15 Early Varieties excluding Athens

Yield FM 1740 vs. DP 555

Plant Height A AB B B - 7.5

Total Main-stem Nodes A BC B C

Total Boll Production

Percent Open Bolls B AB A A +14.5%

Boll Production Compared to DP 555 BG/RR (1 st Position)

Early VarietiesLint Yield FM 1740 B2RF1928 DG 2570 B2RF R619 B2R21890 DP 0920 B2RF1861 PHY 370 WR1846 DP 0935 B2RF1833 DP 0924 B2RF1809 DP 0912B2RF1800 ST 5288 B2F1790 PHY 367 WRF1789 CG 3220 B2RF1752 ST 4498 B2RF1751 AM 1550 B2RF1726 PHY 375 WRF1704 ST 4288 B2F1681 BCSX 1035 LLB21670 SSG CT Linwood1666 NG 3331 B2RF1653 All-Tex Epic RF GA Cotton OVT – Irr. & Dry combined – Top 19 Varieties (Bainbridge, Midville, Plains,Tifton) Late VarietiesLint Yield DP 0949 B2RF R621 B2R21788 PHY 370 WR1774 DP 555 BG/RR1767 PHY 375 WRF1755 PHY 565 WRF1747 ST 5458 B2RF1721 DP 0935 B2RF1707 PHY 5922 WRF1699 DP 161 B2RF1698 PHY485 WRF1671 ST 5288 B2F1653 ST 5327 B2RF1644 DP 164 B2RF1624 BCSX 1015 LLB21620 FM 1845 LLB21609 PHY 480 WR1609 DP 174 RF1591 BCSX 1025 LLB21567

2010 Weather

Changes in Management DP 555 BGRR ® = full-season variety, very aggressive growth New varieties = less aggressive growth??? earlier maturity ??? true cutout??

Growth Management for New Varieties New varieties….rank growth could still result when excessive rains occur BUT… pay close attention to plant growth when making PGR decisions, because excessive PGR use could inhibit yield potential in some of these newer early-maturing varieties -Prebloom apps -First bloom apps -Midbloom apps

DP 1050 B2RF Non-treated leaves

PHY 565 WRF Non-treated leaves

Plant Height – Nontreated Cotton inches

Plant Height – Treated Cotton inches

Percent of Non-treated (Height) percent

DP 1050 B2RF vs FM 1740 B2F Stance leaves Stance leaves

DP 1050 B2RF vs FM 1740 B2F Mepex leaves Mepex leaves

Prebloom Growth Management LRM 1xLRM 2xMEB 1xMEB 2x 9 leaf4 oz/A8 oz/A 16 oz/A + 1 week4 oz/A8 oz/A week4 oz/A8 oz/A First Bloom4 oz/A8 oz/A 16 oz/A Additionally, we are evaluating the necessity of prebloom applications, and or how well we can control growth with later-season applications

Prebloom Growth Management LRM 8 oz/A 4 apps MEB 8 oz/A 2 appsMEB 16 oz/A 2 apps LRM 4 oz/A 4 apps Non-treated

Collaborative/Other Projects

Questions ??