Registration of CRB 252, an Upland Cotton Germplasm Line with Improved Fiber Quality Traits

Abstract

The upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm line CRB 252 (Reg. No GP‐925, PI 658596) was developed, evaluated, and jointly released in 2009 by the USDA‐ARS, the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station, and Cotton Incorporated. The purpose of the release was to provide a broadly adapted, high fiber‐quality resource for facilitating fiber improvement efforts across the U.S. Cotton Belt. CRB 252 originated from the cross ‘Suregrow 248’/‘Phytogen 72’//‘Stoneville 474’/‘Acala Maxxa’, followed by individual plant selection in the F2 and F3 generations at the low‐desert location of Maricopa, AZ and F3.5 progeny selection at five locations distributed across the Cotton Belt. Evaluation of CRB 252 occurred in 13 location‐year environments at Florence, SC; Blackville, SC; Tifton, GA; Plains, GA; Alexandria, LA; Maricopa, AZ; and Shafter, CA in 2007 and 2008. CRB 252 displayed fiber length and micronaire values superior to those of the high fiber‐quality check cultivars Phytogen 72 and FM 958. The fiber strength and short‐fiber content of CRB 252 was superior to those of FM 958. Lint yield of CRB 252 was superior to that of Phytogen 72 and did not differ from FM 958. CRB 252 is an excellent source of quality fiber, with acceptable yield potential that appears to be stable across production environments.