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.

Twenty-seven upland cotton varieties were grown in a replicated test at the Maricopa Agricultural Center as part of the National Cotton Variety Testing Program. Lint yield, boll size, lint percent, plant population, plant height and fiber property data are presented in this report.

Forty one short staple varieties were grown in a replicated field trial on the Safford Agricultural Center. DP 5690 was the highest yielding variety with a yield of 1302 pounds of lint per acre with DP 90 in second place but with 100 pounds of lint less per acre. Seedcotton yields were essentially identical to 1994.

Two on farm, replicated short staple variety demonstrations were established in 1995. Twelve varieties were evaluated on the Carpenter farm in Solomon and on the Colvin farm in Eden. Several new varieties were planted in both studies, including 2 varieties from Hartz Seed and a new Stoneville entry. Delta Pine 5690 and SureGrow 501 were the highest yielding varieties with yields of 1018 and 1446 pounds of lint per acre at the Solomon and Eden locations, respectively.

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 eight acalas varieties from New Mexico and California. The other trial on the Curry farm, southwest of Kansas Settlement and north of Sunsites, tested twelve upland varieties as part of the statewide testing program. The latter trial was grown under drip irrigation.

Eight short staple cotton varieties including four New Mexico acalas and four California acalas were tested in the 1995 variety study. The highest yielding variety was 1517-95 with a lint yield of 1030 pounds per acre. The average yield was nearly 100 pounds per acre higher than the previous year. In addition to lint yields; percent lint, plant heights, height to node ratios and plant populations are shown. A lint yield comparison for 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1995 is included in this paper.