Introducing D&PL’s Class Of ’09
May 28, 2009 With a market share of 57.28% in the Southeast and 10.45% in the Mid-South, Delta and Pine Land’s DP 555 BG/RR continues to be the beast, the gold standard, of varieties planted in 2008. USDA says Triple Nickel is the nation’s most popular variety with an overall share of 17.2%.
And that’s not the only big hitter from D&PL. DP 444 BG/RR and DP 445 BG/RR have market shares in the Mid-South of 16.5% and 12.78% respectively. D&PL’s top Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex variety is DP 164 B2RF, with a national market share of 4.7% and a 21.45% share in the Far West.
With Monsanto’s decision not to reregister Bollgard with the EPA, three of D&PL’s most popular varieties will not be commercially available after September 30, 2009. But if they are purchased by that date, they may be planted in 2010.
“One of the reasons we won’t be requesting an extension for Bollgard with the EPA is that we don’t want to have resistance to that first Bt trait,” explains D&PL Marketing Lead Dave Rhylander. “Understanding the importance of high performing genetics, we are looking for products that have more yield than 555 and better lint quality.”
Dr. Lloyd May, Cotton Breeder–Monsanto, adds, “Every year we test thousands of experimental varieties that contain Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex as we try to find something that is better than 555. And we’re beating that mark.”
Two new Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex varieties that will be released in ’09 are drawing the most interest — DP 0924 B2RF and DP 0935 B2RF.
“DP 0935 B2RF is slightly earlier than DP 555 BG/RR,” says Dr. Dave Albers, U.S. Cotton Germplasm Manager–Monsanto. “It may not have the height and growth of 555, but the 0935’s boll size and seed size will be larger. What we typically see with larger seed is better early vigor and better early growth. And we think there will be some quality improvements in the 0935. But the thing I like best about 0935 is its consistent performance in trials.”
Across 75 locations, both irrigated and dryland from the lower Southeast to Arizona and California, Albers says DP 0935 B2RF was ranked either number one in yield or was in the top yield group. Where it was not the number one variety, he says there was no statistical difference between it and the number one.
DP 0935 is also a nectariless variety. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a nectariless variety on the market,” Albers says. “That’s important where we have lygus in the Mid-South and Southeast, and fleahoppers in Texas. They are not as attracted to nectariless varieties. This is not the silver bullet for lygus, but it is a tool for growers and their consultants to use.”
Maturity wise, DP 0924 B2RF will be closer to that of DP 444BG/RR and DP 445 BG/RR. “It’s a semi-smooth leaf and it has as improved turnout compared to competitive B2RF varieties,” Albers says. “DP 0924 B2RF should be a step up in yield with very good fiber quality.”
The fiber quality picture was better understood when D&PL brought 500 bales of DP 0924 B2RF to the Memphis classing office from its winter nurseries in Costa Rica and they had an average of 37 staple, 4.45 mic and 29.5 strength.
For more information on Delta and Pine Land varieties, see: www.deltaandpine.com
Add 3 photos:
Bollgard II is replacing the original Bollard trait.
Delta and Pine Land continues to have the largest single-brand market share.
Dr. Dave Albers introduces the commercially available DP 0924 B2RF and DP 0935 B2RF of the Class of ‘09.
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