AFD Seed company's newest Roundup Ready variety, AFD 3602RR, available in limited quantities last year, will have full commercial release for the 2005 season, says Bo Downer, AFD cotton breeder.

Downer says 3602RR is a medium maturing, high-yielding variety with good storm resistance. “The variety combines high yields and fiber characteristics expected from picker type varieties with a storm resistant boll type, substantially reducing the risk of yield loss from late season storms.”

The variety averaged a 37 staple and 30 plus strength with premium micronaire across the High Plains region in 2003.

Another variety, AFD 3511RR — AFD's first Roundup Ready variety — introduced in 2003, is an early fruiting, early maturing stripper-variety adapted to the High Plains. Downer says 3511RR has excellent storm resistance and early maturation, a valuable benefit in the 2004 season.

“The variety consistently produces 35 staple, high strength and premium micronaire,” Downer says. “Large seed provide excellent seedling vigor under harsh spring environments.”

AFD also offers two conventional varieties.

AFD Raider 271, a medium early maturing variety developed at Texas Tech University, “has proven itself even in late planting situations to retain what ginners say is high quality cotton,” Downer says.

The variety has excellent yield potential and storm resistance. “It's a good choice and an excellent economical option for replant on clean acres.”

AFD 2485 is a high yielding variety that combines the same quality fiber package, storm resistance and high yields as AFD 3602RR in a conventional package.

“Medium maturing and indeterminate, the variety has performed well under a wide range of conditions, from dryland to heavy irrigation, and is a good choice for conventional management on clean fields.”

e-mail: rsmith@primediabusiness.com