Twenty five short staple varieties were grown in a replicated field trial on the Safford Agricultural Center. Yields were reduced from what was seen in 1996, with the highest yielding variety, MAC 95 producing less than 2.5 bales per acre. It was followed closely by SG 1001, and DP 90, varieties that have been strong varieties throughout the 1990's. Agronomic values for the plants at harvest and HVI data for lint quality are tabulated in this paper.

Upland cotton advanced strains and commercial check comparison varieties were evaluated in replicated field studies at five locations in 1997. The test sites include Parker, Az., Gila Bend, Az., Buckeye, Az., Maricopa, Az., and Safford, AZ. Ten seed companies submitted a maximum of five advanced strains entries. Three commercial check varieties were used at each site for comparison purposes and included DPL 5415, SG 125, and STV 474.

Variety trials were grown at two locations and with two different sets of short staple varieties. One trial on the Robbs farm, north of Kansas Settlement, tested one acala variety from New Mexico two varieties from Australia and SureGrow 125, the highest yielding variety in Curry trial in 1996. The other trial on the Ed Curry farm, near Sunsites, tested twelve upland varieties as part of the statewide testing program. The highest yielding variety in the Robbs trial was SG 125 with a yield approaching 1.7 bales per acre. In the Curry trial, SureGrow 404, the highest yielding variety in the 1995 trial, had the highest yield approaching 2.5 bales per acre.

In 1996 transgenic Bt cotton was first grown on a commercial level in Arizona. In 1997 transgenic Roundup and Buctril herbicide resistant cotton varieties were introduced and grown on commercially in Arizona. Furthermore, in 1997, four new heat tolerant non- transgenic cotton varieties for commercial release in 1998 were available for University field tests. Prior to 1997, the agronomic characteristics of these new cotton varieties had not been evaluated inside by side replicated field comparisons beyond the level of the developing companies. Field tests were conducted in La Paz and Mohave Counties in 1997 examining agronomic characteristics of new transgenic Bt ( Deltapine 5415 vs. Deltapine 32 B and 33B) and herbicide resistant (Paymaster 1220 BGRR vs. 1244 BGRR and Stoneville 474 vs. BXN 47) and non transgenic heat tolerant (SureGrow 125 vs. 180 and 821, Stoneville 474 vs. 468, and Germain's GC 9230) cotton varieties.

Six short staple cotton varieties including two New Mexico acalas varieties and one advanced strain, two Australian varieties and a SureGrow variety with higher yield potential were tested in this study. The SureGrow variety, SG 125 had the highest lint yield with a yield of 875 pounds of lint per acre, out producing the following varieties by 80 pounds per acre. The average yield was about 100 pounds per acre lower than the previous year, and 50 pounds less than the 5 year average due to a cold spring and an early frost. In addition to lint yields; percent lint, plant heights, height to node ratios, plant populations and lint hvi values are shown. A lint yield comparison for 1993 through 1997 is included in this paper.

Twenty five short staple advanced strains /varieties were grown in a replicated field on the Safford Agricultural Center in 1997. These included thirteen lines from Australia (including transgenic Bt lines), four lines from Georgia, five lines from NMSU, and two lines from Terra. The transgenic Australian lines dominated the trial with three of them yielding over 3 bales. The next nine varieties yielded over 2.5 bales per acre, they included six Australian variety, DP 90 (the standard variety) and an experimental from New Mexico. IF 1003 was the highest yielding non-transgenic variety in the trial. Much agronomic information is included in the paper as well as HVI values for each variety.

Several field experiments were conducted in many of the cotton growing areas of Arizona in 1997 for the purpose of evaluating agronomic characteristics of many new transgenic Upland cotton varietie. In many cases, the new transgenic lines were compared directly with their recurrent (non-transgenic) parents. Evaluations were carried out by collecting plant mapping data from each variety on a regular 14 day interval throughout the season and relating the resultant information to established baselines for Upland cotton in Arizona. Lint yield measurements were also taken on each variety at all locations. Results indicate that all transgenic lines tested are very similar to their recurrent parents in terms of growth, development, and yield Some subtle differences were noted but they were very slight and should impact management of the varieties significantly in comparison to their recurrent parents.

Sixteen short staple advanced strains/varieties were grown in a replicated field on the Safford Agricultural Center in 1995. These included entries from ChemBred, Delta Pine, Sure-Grow, Olvey and Associates, McDaniels, NMSU and Australia. The Australian materials produced quite well with three of the entries placing in the top four with respect to lint yield. The highest yielding cultivar being an Australian entry, A83203-183, with a yield of 1508.5 pounds of lint per acre. In addition to yield data, this report includes many agronomic parameters including seedling vigor index, height to node ratio, and boll size. HVI analyses are also included in the report.

Twenty one Upland cotton advanced strains varieties which are not commercially available were evaluated in replicated field studies in 1995 on two farm sites in Queen Creek, Arizona and Buckeye, Arizona representing seven seed companies. Twenty four advanced strains representing eight seed companies were evaluated on a commercial site in Gila Bend, Arizona. Participating seed companies submitted three advanced strain entries, plus a commercially available check of their choice at each site. The Gila Bend site represented strains of a more indeterminate nature for a full season production approach, while the sites at Buckeye and Queen Creek consisted of more determinate entry characteristics to represent a reduced season production approach. The highest lint yields were obtained from Germains 9230 (1756 lb./a), Delta and Pine Land Co. 5517 (1116 lb./a), and Delta and Pine Land Co. 9057 (1578 lb./a) at Queen Creek, Buckeye, and Gila Bend respectively.

Eleven field experiments were conducted in many of the cotton growing areas of Arizona in 1995 for the purpose of evaluating Upland cotton varieties in terms of adaptability and performance. Seven commercial cottonseed companies participated in the program. Two varieties were submitted from each company at each location. Experiments were conducted on grower - cooperator fields in each case. Locations used in the program spanned the range of conditions common to cotton producing areas of the state from about 150 ft. to 4, 000 ft. elevation. Results indicated a broad range of adaptability and competitiveness on the part of each of the participating companies and their representative varieties. The 1995 season offered some extremes in terms of weather conditions, with very cold spring temperatures, followed by very hot conditions in July and August. Variety performance under these extremes offers an opportunity for review and comparison with regard to adaptability. Each of the companies offers a compliment of varieties that can serve to match various production strategies commonly employed in the state as well as showing a strong capacity to be regionally adaptive.