Debut for Three New Australian Bred Cotton Varieties

Three exciting new Australian-bred cotton varieties containing Roundup Ready Flex technology have been rolled out in time for the upcoming planting.

Speaking on CSDs Web on Wednesday, Extension and Development Agronomist Robert Eveleigh introduced Sicot 71BRF, Sicot 71RRF and Siokra V-18BRF.

Mr Eveleigh said Sicot 71BRF, which contains Bollgard II and Roundup Ready Flex technologies will be one of the highest yielding varieties ever to be released by CSD and will probably be the most predominant Australian cotton variety for several seasons.

“From CSIRO data, it’s about three percent higher yielding than the popular Sicot 71BR and with improved fibre quality. Its got lower micronaire, about 0.3 micronaire points lower, and better fibre length by about one length grade.”

“It’s highly adaptable – its fit is where people are currently growing Sicot 71BR”.

“It can be grown pretty much anywhere from the northern areas around Emerald to the southern areas around Hillston, although you need to remember it is a full-season variety and in the short-season areas it needs to be managed accordingly”, Mr Eveliegh said.

Sicot 71RRF is the Roundup Ready Flex version of the most popular current Roundup Ready variety, the high yielding Sicot 71RR.

“Almost all of its attributes are the same – similar yield and similar fibre quality,” Mr Eveleigh said.

Siokra V-18BRF is the first okra-leaf variety with Bollgard II and Roundup Ready Flex technology and is ideally suited to the cooler growing regions.

“In the eastern sites where we trialed it this year, east of Narrabri, Boggabri and the Darling Downs, it did very well, yielding six per-cent higher than Sicala 60BRF”.

“The okra leaf also has pest management advantages, being less attractive to mites and whitefly”, Mr Eveleigh said.

The Sicot 71BRF and Sicot 71RRF are in limited quantities this season and have been balloted through CSDs membership.

CSD General Manager Steve Ainsworth said the members’ ballot system, currently in its fifth season, is the most fair and reasonable way of giving members the opportunity to look at the latest generation of varieties.

This year will the last one where growers can purchase varieties with Roundup Ready technology.