INNOVATION IN COTTON BREEDING: FH-416 AS A NEWLY DEVELOPED VARIETY FOR YIELD AND QUALITY ADVANCEMENT IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

A novel Bt-cotton variety FH-416 produced higher seed cotton yield and fiber quality in different cotton regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Development of FH-416 was started in 2012 at Cotton Research Station, Faisalabad through hybridization between the parents like CIM-599(Bt) and FH-142(Bt). Selection of superior single plants started from F2 and superior single plants within superior progenies were selected in following generations (F3-F6) by using modified pedigree method. Evaluation phase for yield performance of advanced strains was started during 2019-20. The selected advanced strains evaluated in different trials including preliminary yield trial, advance yield trial, national coordinated varietal trial, agronomic trial, entomological trial and spot examination trial. Under preliminary yield trial, FH-416 produced 23.23 % higher seed cotton yield as compared to check variety. Under advanced yield trial, FH-416 showed maximum yield increased i.e., 31.10 % over the check/standard. Yield performance under national coordinated varietal trials, FH-416 revealed 13.41 % and 18.83 % higher yield with respect to check variety (CIM-600) and secured 1st and 2nd position during 2021 and 2022, respectively. FH-416 qualified the fiber quality standards with superior fiber traits including, staple length (28.92 mm), fiber fineness (4.28 µg/inch), fiber strength (32.03 g/tex) and ginning out turn (42.0 %). Amongst sowing dates, 16 March, 1st April and 16 April showed higher yield, predicting the best sowing window for FH-416 along with plant spacing 22.2cm and 30cm. FH-416 revealed tolerance for cotton leaf curl disease based on disease incidence recorded 1.03% and 1.29% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively. FH-416 revealed moderate tolerance against infestation of insect-pests including whitefly, thrips, jassid and pink bollworm. Therefore, in the meeting of Punjab Seed Council during 2025, FH-416 a novel cotton variety approved for general cultivation in different cotton zones of Pakistan. However, FH-416 combines yield stability, fiber quality, and stress resilience, making it a promising option for Pakistan’s cotton revival.