Cotton Research Institute - BreedingSection

Breeding Section Offices

The main objective of the breeding section is to develop high yielding varieties of cotton which have lint characteristics suitable for the domestic and export markets. The section has three programmes that are categorized according to altitude.

1. Middleveld (MSH) programmeThis programme focuses on breeding cotton cultivars   that can be grown at altitudes of between 600 and 1200 m.a.s.l. It is based at Cotton Research Institute since the Institute stands at an altitude of 1 149m.a.s.l. It is designed to support the traditional cotton growing areas of Mazowe, Centenery, Chinhoyi and Kadoma. It excludes the Southeast Lowveld areas that include Chipinge, Chiredzi and Triangle. Emphasis is on producing cultivars capable of giving a satisfactory return over a wide range of growing conditions. Currently the country has 3 cultivars - SZ 9314, BC 853 and FQ 902 (all bred by CRI) which account for over 80% of the national cotton production.   
2. Lowveld (MSL) programmeThis programme focuses on breeding cotton cultivars that can be grown at low altitudes of between 300 and 600 m.a.s.l. The trials for this programme are conducted at the Lowveld Experiment Stations of Save Valley and Chisumbanje in the South Eastern region of the country. The programme is designed to suit high-input irrigated estates and low-input dryland farms of the southeast Lowveld and the Zambezi Valley. Currently 2 varieties, both bred by CRI are available for these areas. The varieties are AG 4869 for irrigated production and SZ 9314 for dryland production. These cultivars accounts for around 15% of the national cotton production.
3. Long staple (LS) programmeThe focus of this programme is breeding high quality long staple cotton varieties that can be grown at medium altitudes of between 600-1000 m.a.s.l. The trials are conducted at Cotton Research Institute and Panmure Experiment Station in Shamva. Kadoma is at an altitude of 1 160m.a.s.l. while Shamva is at 970m.a.s.l. Two cultivars that were bred under this programme are CY 889 and LS 9219. Both cultivars do best under irrigated conditions although LS 9219 can also perform well under dryland conditions.
   

Breeding seed bulks	Breeding Trials

Achievements

All varieties grown in Zimbabwe were developed, tested and released by Cotton Research Institute. Over the last 25 years, CRI released a total of 16 varieties. Seed cotton yields improved from 3-20% through use of varieties better adapted to low inputs and moisture stress. Fibre quality (length, strength, fineness) was improved through emphasis on higher quality medium staple Albar cotton varieties. Ginning percentage improved from 34-36% in pre 1980 cultivars to 43% in post 1980 cultivars (on a 40 saw gin). All these cultivars have resistance to bacterial blight disease. In areas where Verticillium wilt is a problem, the variety BC 853 can be grown as it has tolerance to the disease. All the varieties also have jassid resistance. Varieties with increased aphid tolerance have also been identified. These include SZ 9314 and FQ 902. Better pest control in some cultivars was achieved by breeding for a more open plant structure that allows for better spray penetration as is the case with recently released cultivars. 

In 2006 CRI released two cotton cultivars namely, CRI MS1 and CRI MS2. CRI MS1 is a medium staple cultivar which was offered to most dry and irrigated Middleveld (MSH) growers to complement the variety SZ 9314. It is a determinate variety with improved tolerance to Verticillium wilt and produces significantly more yield under irrigation. While its medium bolls may reduce hand picking productivity, the good seed cotton retention in open bolls and early maturing is beneficial to the grower. This variety has the best fibre quality in the medium staple range; combining good staple length and fibre strength. CRI MS2, is recommended for the south-east lowveld areas of the country (MSL). It performs significantly better than SZ 9314. It can produce an average of 15% more seed cotton and 13% more lint yield than SZ9314 in the lowveld. It is a semi-determinate cultivar with a shorter growing period than the indeterminate variety SZ 9314. It however has small bolls and a slightly shorter fibre when compared to SZ 9314.