Azeem A Khan

Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) in Multan has introduced new cotton seeds called triple-gene Bt which are an upgradation over the previous single-gene Bt. According to the Director of CCRI Dr Zahid Mahmood, the new seeds are climate-smart, resistant against bollworms attacks, can survive amid low water availability, and are able to tackle weed problem. He added, “this new variety of cotton seeds will also increase per acre yield up to more than 50 maunds.”Zahid Mehmood said that the research body had earlier developed a single-gene Bt cotton seed. “Now it has developed three varieties each carrying three genes,” he added.

He informed that the new varieties include Cyto-545, Cyto-537, and CIM-343. “These varieties,” he said, “will be resistant to climate change and will also resist the attacks from American bollworm, Spotted bollworm, Armyworm, and Pink bollworm.” He continued, “these seeds will be drought-resistant due to their in-built ability to survive water shortages. And most importantly, these varieties will also counter the weeds’ trouble.” Zahid Mehmood said that farmers mostly applied Glyphosate spray to kill weeds but in doing so they ended up hurting the cotton plants.

“These seeds will save farmers from the trouble of using harmful sprays on the cotton crop,” he added. He concluded by saying that the triple-gene variety will give a yield of more than 50 maunds per acre. “These new seeds will be available for cultivation in the next season. We will invite farmers here in the research facility to see first-hand the cotton crop thriving as a result of using the triple-gene seeds.”

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk