PAU develops new variety of cotton

Ludhiana, Mar 11 (UNI) The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a new hybrid variety of 'desi' (local) cotton, PAU-626H. The variant has been released for general cultivation in the current sowing season.

PAU scientists today said PAU 626H has been developed by crossing a male-sterile line DS-5 (female parent) and LD 694 (male parents).

The hybrid was extensively tested for four years in research trials at Faridkot, Ludhiana, Abohar and Bathinda research stations and it was also tested for one year at fields in all the cotton growing districts of the state during 2006-07.

PAU 626H is an early maturing and high yielding genetic male sterility based 'desi' cotton hybrid.

It vacates the field in about 160 days for timely sowing of rabi crops and its average yield is 9.8 quintals per acre. Its ginning output is 40 per cent and fibre length is 20.1 mm.

UNI