Explore the significant impact of Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) variety trial program on modern cotton growing. This program has revolutionised the industry by providing key insights into cotton variety performance. We highlight the program’s comprehensive benefits, from regional analysis to advanced technological integration, and its role in driving sustainable agricultural practices. Dive into how CSD is shaping the future of cotton growing, with a spotlight on our new candidate lines.

The Impact of CSD’s Variety Trial Program

CSD’s variety trial program has been a linchpin in revolutionising cotton growing. By growing different cotton varieties side-by-side, these trials have offered unparalleled insights into each variety’s performance, aiding cotton growers, industry agents, and agronomists in making informed decisions. This program is not just about variety comparison; it’s a comprehensive approach to understanding cotton’s response to differing environmental and management landscapes.

Our trials program offers a multitude of benefits for the industry, involving a broad spectrum of practical and strategic advantages:

• Integrated Regional Analysis and Local Growth Visibility: The program not only enables you to compare the performance of various cotton varieties at a regional level, but it also offers growers the chance to observe these varieties thriving in their own localities. This dual approach is facilitated by an online tool available on our website, which allows for detailed comparisons of different varieties across seasons and under diverse conditions, including irrigated, semi-irrigated, and dryland. Simultaneously, this visibility is essential for a seamless transition to new varieties, especially those with XtendFlex technology, ensuring growers are well-informed and equipped to adapt to these innovations in their own environments.
• Field Days and Demonstrations: CSD organises field days and walks within the trial areas, providing a dynamic platform to showcase the varieties and their performance. These events offer tangible insights into the potential of each variety.
• Data-Driven Growth Insights: Our extension team diligently monitors and collects data from the trials. This data is instrumental in understanding the growth habits of the varieties under specific conditions and in each region. This knowledge empowers the team to collaborate with growers and consultants, advising on optimal management strategies to maximise the potential of each variety.
• Informed Variety Selection and Benchmarking: The program is a critical tool for both CSD and CSIRO in making informed decisions regarding variety selections and benchmarking variety performance.
• Extensive Data Compilation: Over the past eight years, intensive data collection from variety trials and the Ambassador program has culminated in a substantial dataset. This dataset encompasses a wide range of varieties, geographic regions, and seasonal conditions. This comprehensive data collection has proven to be an invaluable resource, particularly for developing tools for CSD members like BARRY and CottonTracka.

The Trials Methodology

CSD’s trial methodology is meticulously crafted to closely replicate real-world growing conditions, ensuring that the results are highly relevant and directly applicable to practical farming. These trials are conducted across diverse environmental settings, ranging from well-irrigated through to dryland, to comprehensively evaluate how different cotton varieties perform under a variety of conditions. This approach is crucial for facilitating the smooth transition from existing varieties to newer ones, particularly those enhanced with advanced traits like XtendFlex technology.

However, CSD’s trials extend beyond mere variety testing. They encompass a broad spectrum of agronomic research and disease management studies. For instance, trials conducted at CSD Farms delve into pivotal issues such as optimising plant population, ensuring crop uniformity, and implementing effective disease management strategies. These aspects of the trials are vital in equipping growers with practical, real-world insights and strategies.

In the 2023/24 season, the program encompasses 52 variety trials, which include the evaluation of five promising new lines featuring Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® technology. These trials are diversely distributed, comprising nine dryland, one semi-irrigated, and 42 irrigated trials, with potential expansion based on upcoming rainfall patterns. The geographical scope of these trials is expansive, covering areas from southern New South Wales to northern and western Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. This wide-ranging distribution ensures that the trial results are robust and specifically relevant to the diverse regional conditions experienced by growers. To provide growers with hands-on experience and insights, numerous field walk trials are planned throughout the season, with a special focus on the new lines incorporating XtendFlex technology.

Through Cotton Breeding Australia (CBA), CSD is committed to developing and releasing new cotton varieties that are on par with or superior to current commercial strains. This commitment is grounded in stringent criteria focusing on yield potential, fibre quality characteristics, disease resistance, and regional adaptability ensuring that each new variety meets the high standards expected by today’s cotton growers.

Decades of Data: Key Findings and Milestones

Over the last three decades, CSD has accumulated a vast amount of data, contributing significantly to the cotton industry. The recent focus on Bollgard 3 XtendFlex varieties has yielded impressive results, with these varieties showing remarkable performance in trials. For instance, newer B3XF varieties have shown a yield improvement of 0.3% over Sicot 606B3F, reinforcing CSD’s commitment to bringing superior varieties to the market.

Will these varieties grow on my farm?

The answer is a resounding yes. Through our dedicated Seed Increase Program, CSD Farms has been growing these new candidate lines for several seasons. Our approach began with small plot trials and progressively expanded to larger areas as we bulked up the seed supply. Our experience so far has shown that these varieties align well with conventional practices, not deviating significantly from what we’ve encountered in previous years.
The analysis of data gathered from variety trials, which track the growth and development of new candidate lines of Bollgard, reveals no notable distinctions from the Bollgard 3 Roundup Ready Flex lines that we presently grow.

However, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind for optimal growth:

• Some varieties are low density, which necessitates extra attention during planting to ensure optimal conditions.
• It’s important to manage the crop to prevent excessive vegetative growth, adhering to the standard guidelines.
• Careful management of the flowering period is crucial. The goal is to minimise stress and extend the flowering duration as much as possible.

 

Spotlight on New Candidate Lines

CSD has introduced five candidate lines featuring the innovative Bollgard 3 XtendFlex technology, along with one variety containing the XtendFlex trait, specifically designed to meet refuge requirements. The development of these lines represents a significant journey. Several of these candidates are newly developed germplasm, signifying their successful progression through conventional, non-GMO breeding programs before advancing into the genetically modified cultivar development process. The initial crosses that laid the foundation for these potential commercial varieties commenced 15 years ago, marking a decade and a half of dedicated research and development in our quest to bring advanced solutions to the industry.

In our selection of five promising candidate lines containing Bollgard 3 XtendFlex, three stand out, igniting considerable excitement and anticipation. These lines, emerging from over 15 years of dedicated breeding and seed enhancement, represent new germplasm with notable potential.

Firstly, CSX1049B3XF, though primarily known as a dryland variety, also demonstrates substantial yield potential under irrigated conditions. It is a normal density variety distinguished by its exemplary establishment in various trials. Particularly well-suited for cooler regions accustomed to cool starts, this variety has shown exceptional performance in dryland conditions, consistently surpassing Sicot 748B3F by 0.2b/ha in such environments. Its robust establishment capabilities in less-than-ideal conditions further highlight its promising prospects.

CSX3141B3XF is a versatile variety with a broad range of adaptability, performing impressively across the industry. While it presents some challenges in establishment, careful management during this phase can secure a strong plant stand, yielding significant benefits later in the season. It boasts resistance to Cotton Bunchy Top (CBT) and preliminary data suggests enhanced resistance to verticillium wilt compared to existing varieties. As the most popular line featuring XtendFlex technology, it has seamlessly integrated into the management styles of those who grow it.

CSX4389B3XF marks a return to the okra leaf shape, offering advantages in light penetration, insecticide, and defoliant efficacy, while also exhibiting host plant resistance to mites and silver-leaf whitefly. This line responds well to meticulous management and excels in high-yield, full-season scenarios. It is believed to have the highest yield potential among all CSD varieties, sparking enthusiasm for its future impact. Additionally, it shares resistance to CBT and shows promising signs of improved verticillium resistance.

Beyond these, CSD is actively evaluating numerous other candidates in our Nursery program, with an eye on future industry releases. These candidates are being assessed for their yield potential, fibre quality, disease resistance, and regional adaptability ensuring they meet the specific needs of Australian cotton growers.

Acknowledging the Essential Contributions of Growers

The role of growers in CSD’s trial program is indispensable and multifaceted. They do more than just provide land for trials; they are actively engaged in the research process, offering critical insights and feedback that shape our understanding and outcomes. At CSD, we deeply value and recognise the significant efforts of these growers in both the variety trial and ambassador network programs.To honour their dedication and achievements, we present various accolades to high-performing cotton growers. These awards are not only a token of appreciation but also serve as a platform to highlight their successes. We develop and share case studies within the industry, showcasing their accomplishments and the impact of their contributions. This practice not only celebrates their achievements but also fosters a culture of shared learning and continuous improvement across the cotton growing community.

Conclusion

CSD’s Variety Trial Program has been instrumental in revolutionising cotton growing, offering invaluable insights into variety performance. Through a rigorous methodology that mirrors real-world conditions and a broad spectrum of agronomic research, CSD has significantly contributed to the advancement and sustainability of the cotton industry. As the program continues to evolve, incorporating cutting-edge technologies like Bollgard 3 XtendFlex and recognising the vital role of growers, it stands as a testament to CSD’s commitment to excellence and innovation to the cotton industry.