Emergent Genetics, Inc. will release eight new products in 2005.  Six new Stoneville brand picker offerings include four new stacked varieties—two with Bollgard II technology—and two new Roundup Ready varieties for 2005:  ST 3636B2R, ST 5454B2R, ST 4575BR, ST 6636BR, ST 4686R, and ST 6848R.  One new Stoneville brand Roundup Ready stripper variety will be introduced in limited quantities—ST 3664R.  Last but not least, another new NexGen brand Roundup Ready variety will be released—NG 3969R.  The NexGen brand of cotton products has been developed for High Plains growers who need early-maturity, high-fiber quality, stormproof cottons.

Dr. Mike Robinson, an Emergent Genetics breeder based in Stoneville, Mississippi, developed the Stoneville brand varieties ST 3636B2R, ST 4575BR and ST 4686R.  “Our new Bollgard II/Roundup Ready variety, ST 3636B2R, provides growers the option of planting a very-early variety without sacrificing yield or fiber quality.  It also allows more opportunity under replant conditions with the benefit of Bollgard II for increased Lepidopteran control.

“Additionally, ST 4575BR and ST 4686R provide the improved fiber quality that growers need without losing yield potential.  They are slightly earlier than ST 4892BR with excellent pickability.  These varieties represent some of the latest fruits of the commitment by Emergent Genetics to supply growers with better fiber quality while maintaining high yield potential with the technology that they demand.”

ST 5454B2R is a smooth-leaf, medium-maturity variety with the Bollgard II/Roundup Ready technology.  It is a little earlier than ST 5599BR, and has a desirable fiber-quality package that should reduce discounts, including micronaire.         

Growers in the Southern Cotton Belt will have two new Stoneville brand full-season varieties—ST 6636BR and ST 6848R.  Stoneville brand ST 6636BR is a Bollgard/Roundup Ready variety that offers good yield potential and tremendous fiber quality.  ST 6848R comes from the same new full-season maturity germplasm as ST 6636BR, and is perfect for growers who prefer a single-gene Roundup Ready variety or need an option for refugia.   

“These smooth-leaf varieties offer excellent fiber quality that may be better than that of ST 5599BR and other leading competitive varieties, particularly in staple and strength,” says Mark Barfield, Emergent Genetics Southeast Research Station Manager who bred the two varieties and who is based in Albany, Georgia.  “ST 6636BR and ST 6848R represent new germplasm that has never had bronze wilt detected in it.”

“Both varieties make a very good middle and top crop.  Their full-season maturity is well suited to both dryland and irrigated production on coarse-textured soils of the Coastal Plain.  When the weather turns dry and hot, this germplasm has a tendency to hunker down during the day.” 

For Southwest cotton growers, NexGen brand NG 3969R and Stoneville brand ST 3664R have Roundup Ready technology and represent new germplasm with maturity similar to picker varieties such as ST 4892BR or ST 4793R.  These two stormproof varieties are capable of moving into areas south of Lubbock where growers have turned to picker varieties for higher yields and fiber quality that are associated with a fuller season maturity. 

“With these new varieties, growers can enjoy the benefits of longer-season picker varieties without the risk that comes with an open picker-type boll,” says Southwest Research Station Manager, Dr. Steve Calhoun, who bred the two varieties and who is based in Idalou, Texas.        

NG 3969R is the latest addition to the high-fiber-quality, stormproof NexGen brand of cotton varieties.  This high yield potential variety responds well to irrigated production.   NG 3969R is a smooth-leaf variety with mid-season maturity.  It has excellent staple length, strength and micronaire.      

The fiber length and strength of ST 3664R is similar to that of ST 4793R, but with a little lower micronaire.  This stripper variety yields as well as, or better than, ST 4793R and its stormproof boll type allows greater flexibility with harvest timing.  ST 3664R is well-suited to dryland production; its fuller-season maturity gives it the benefit of more flexibility on dryland production so growers have more time to take advantage of moisture when it falls.

Limited seed supplies of all eight varieties are expected in 2005.  Large quantities will be available in 2006.

Rich in cotton heritage, Emergent Genetics is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with research & development sites, and seed production facilities located across the United States and internationally.  Stoneville brand cotton was the world’s first commercial genetically-enhanced cotton seed, and set a new packaging standard by changing to a 230,000 seed count.  Emergent Genetics provides varieties that cotton growers need today to compete in the global cotton economy.

Stoneville and NexGen are trademarks of Emergent Genetics, Inc.
Bollgard, Bollgard II, and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Technologies LLC.