CO18: A high yielding with extra long staple Gossypium barbadense cotton variety suitable for Central zone

The cotton variety CO 18 (culture TCB 37) is a Gossypium barbadense variety identified for release by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2020. This variety was developed at the Department of Cotton, through selection from EC 101786. This variety recorded a mean seed cotton yield of 872 kg/ha as against 621 kg/ha of the Zonal check variety Suvin under irrigated condition. The percentage increase in seed cotton yield was 40.4 per cent. The variety has a yield potential of 1720 kg/ha as has been recorded in Rahuri centre during 2017-18. The variety has recorded an Upper Half Mean Length (UHML) of 35.1 mm, micronaire of 3.5 µg/inch and bundle strength of 36.2 g/tex in HVI mode. The variety recorded a mean boll weight of 3.1 g/boll, is superior to check Suvin and qualifying varieties (GSB 41 and ARBB 1302). CO18 combines high yield potential, big boll size and basic tolerance to pests and diseases. The culture TCB 37 was identified for release as CO 18 by Central Variety Identification Committee during 2020 and the farmers will be highly benefitted by cultivating this variety.