L.) (Reg. 1999, upper half mean (UHM) length, fiber bundle strength,no. CV–120, PI 617042) was developed by the Texas Multi- and uniformity index of Tamcot Pyramid were similar to thoseAdversity Resistance (MAR) Genetic Improvement Program, of Paymaster 330. The UHM length of Tamcot Pyramid wasDepartment of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas Agricultural 3% shorter and strength was 7% lower than Tamcot Sphinx.Experiment Station (TAES) and released in 2000. The TAES- Micronaire reading of Tamcot Pyramid averaged 4.1 com-MAR cotton genetic improvement program utilizes tech- pared with 4.4 for Tamcot Sphinx and Paymaster 330.niques and selection procedures for the simultaneous genetic The Foundation Seed Service of the Texas Agriculturalimprovement of resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses in Experiment Station produces, maintains and sells Foundationaddition to yield, earliness, fiber, and seed quality (Bird, 1982; seed to producers of Registered and Certified classes. TamcotEl-Zik and Thaxton, 1989). Pyramid has U.S. Plant Variety Protection (PVP 200100114)Tamcot Pyramid combines high yield potential, earliness, requiring that it be sold by variety name only as a class ofand excellent fiber properties with wide adaptation over the Certified seed.diverse growing and environmental conditions in Texas. Tam- Research leading to the development of Tamcot Pyramidcot Pyramid was derived by crossing ‘Tamcot Sphinx’ (El-Zik was supported in part by grants from the Texas Food andand Thaxton, 1996) and CD3HGCBU8S-1-91, an unreleased Fibers Commission, and Cotton Incorporated’s Texas StateMAR strain. CD3HGCBU8S-1-91 was the result of cross be- Support program.tween CD3HCAHUGH-2-88 (El-Zik and Thaxton, 1998) andCABUCAG8US-1-88, an unreleased MAR strain. On the ba- P.M. Thaxton* and K.M. El-Ziksis of visual selection for yield potential, bolls from individualplants were bulked within an F