Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-6 (BG-II)^TM “A Bt Version of Popular Quality Cotton Hybrid”

The cotton hybrid G. Cot. Hy-6 was release at national level in 1982 under AICCIP from Main Cotton Research Station. For more than decay, it was remain first choice of cotton growing farmers because of its fiber quality and yield potentiality. However, after introduction of Bt cotton, the hybrid G. Cot. Hy-6 has lost itspopularity. In 2012, with the objectivetoregain G. Cot. Hy-6 popularity among the farmers, combined efforts have been made by Main Cotton Research Station and Gujarat State Seed Corporation Ltd and as a result G. Cot. Hy-6 carries a notified event 15985 and Bollgard-II trademark sourced from MMB. At six locations, the Bt version of said hybrid established its superiority in yield over its non Bt counterpart by 31.4%, over RCH-2 (BG II Bt Check) by 12.6%, over VICH-5 (BG-II a popular Bt hybrid) by 13.6% and over G. Cot. Hy-12 (a non Bt zonal check) by 6.0%. The hybrid remained free from Pink Boll Wormlarvae in green bolls. The damage to open bolls and locules was also below ETL in the hybrid whereas it was very high in non Bts. The hybrid also qualified in the fiber quality standards.