Registration of Arkot 0015a, Arkot 0015b, and Arkot 0016 Germplasm Lines of Cotton

Abstract

Arkot 0015a (Reg. No. GP‐935, PI 660505), Arkot 0015b (Reg. No. GP‐936, PI 660506), and Arkot 0016 (Reg. No. GP‐937, PI 660507) are noncommercial breeding lines of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that were released by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in August 2010. All three lines were released as part of an ongoing effort to develop improved germplasm lines having enhanced yield, yield components, earliness, host‐plant resistance, and fiber properties. Both Arkot 0015a and Arkot 0015b were derived from the cross of two advanced breeding lines: Ark 9308‐14 and Ark 9409‐22. Arkot 0016 was derived from a cross of Ark 9308‐14 and Arkot 9101. The three lines were evaluated in replicated tests at four Arkansas sites from 2006 through 2009. Compared with ‘DP 393’, Arkot 0015a and Arkot 0016 tended to produce lower lint yields and enhanced yield components and to have similar maturity and better fiber quality. Lint yields, maturity, and fiber quality of Arkot 0015b were similar to those of DP 393. Except for Arkot 0016 having the highest density of trichomes on its leaves, all three lines had a lower or equal trichome density on their leaves, stems, and bracts than DP‐393. Lower trichome densities are associated with less trash and higher grades of cotton lint. The three lines are resistant to bacterial blight [caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Smith) Dye]. Resistance of the lines to tarnished plant bug [Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois)] was equal to that of ‘SG 105’ and lower than that of DP 393. The relative yield, maturity, and line‐specific host‐plant resistance traits make these lines valuable to cotton breeding programs.