Value of Cultivation and Use (VCU) Evaluation of Some New Promising Genotypes of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hisutum L.) in Razavi Khorasan Province

In order to evaluate the value of cultivation and use (VCU) of three new upland cotton genotypes, KC8801, KC8802 (introduced as Kashmar and Khorshid new commercial cultivars respectively), and genotype R7 in comparisons to three commercial common cultivars Golestan, Khordad and Varamin (as control cultivars) in Khorasan Razavi province, a two-year field experiment conducted based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications. Seed cotton yield and its components, earliness index and some related morphological and fiber quality traits were measured during the 2012-2013 year. The results showed that the weight of the bolls was higher in the second year, and the seed cotton yield was higher in the second year and the earliness index was higher in the first year. Also, genotype R7 and the new KC8802 genotype had the highest and the lowest fruiting branches number respectively. Both the Khordad control cultivar and KC8802 new genotype had the highest number of bolls (17 bolls), and the KC8801 new genotype had the highest crown diameter and plant height (120 cm) during two cropping seasons. Also, in both years, Khordad and Golestan control cultivars had the highest, and KC8802 and KC8801 new genotypes had the lowest number of vegetative branches (1.325 and 1.250 in the first year and 1.355 and 1.255 in the second year respectively). The KC8801 new genotype had higher gin turn-out and fiber strength. Therefore, based on the results, higher plant height and less vegetative branches number and a closed canopy structure, KC8802 and KC8801 new genotypes which lead to means that they can be cultivated with a higher plant density cultivation capability in ultra-narrow row cultivation, their higher field performance expected and are suitable for cultivation in Razavi Khorasan province and similar areas.