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cotton varieties
01 Apr, 2010 - Pakistan
Punjab Seed Council (PSC) has approved eight BT cotton
varieties and one hybrid variety for cultivation in Punjab whereas two BT
cotton varieties have been deferred. Punjab Seed Council held a meeting here
on Wednesday.
Provincial Agriculture Minister, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Director Punjab Seed
Corporation, Cotton Commissioner (Minfa), Director General Agriculture
(Research), Director General Agriculture (Extension) representatives of
Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Trading Corporation of
Pakistan, Cotton Ginners and cotton growers were also present during the
meeting.
The proposals of 11 varieties of BT Cotton/hybrid evolved by research
institutions of the government and private sector were presented in the
meeting. While discussing and considering for approval, the breeders of BT
cotton varieties presented the case of their varieties for approval by
highlighting trial results.
After discussing at length and keeping in view the data presented for
varieties IR-3701 evolved by Nuclear Institute for Bio-Technology and Genetic
Engineering (NIBGE) Faisalabad, Ali Akbar 703 developed by M/s Ali Akbar Seeds
Multan, MG-6 and Sitara-008 developed by M/s Nawab Gurmani Foundation, Kot
Addu and M/s Agri. Farm Services Multan respectively were approved for
cultivation.
Whereas BT varieties including IR-1524 developed by NIBGE, Faisalabad, FH-113
of Cotton Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Ali Akbar-802 of M/s. Ali
Akbar Seeds, Multan and Neelam-121 developed by M/s. Neelam Seeds, Multan were
approved for one year for field performance / monitoring of the varieties. One
Hybrid variety GM-2085 developed by M/s. Guard Agricultural Research Services,
Raiwind Road, Lahore was also approved.
Two BT cotton varieties including CEMB-01 and CEMB-02 developed by Centre of
Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of Punjab, Lahore were deferred by
Punjab Seed Council. The minister said that BT cotton varieties are being
approved by PSC for the first time since the process was initiated eight years
back. The minister congratulated the breeders for conducting their research.
He hoped that cotton production of Punjab would significantly increase through
cultivation of these BT varieties, which have effective resistance against
Bollworms. The minister also directed the Federal and Provincial government
organizations to take strict action against seed companies involved in selling
fake and substandard cotton seed.
Source: Business Recorder |
