Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

A high yielding herbaceum cotton variety Gujarat Anand Desi Cotton 3 (GADC 3: WagadGaurav) tested as GVhv 767 was developed by Regional Cotton Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Viramgam and released in the year of 2019. It was notified during the year 2020 for the North West Agroclimatic Zone - V and Bhal and Coastal Agroclimatic Zone-VIII of Gujarat. It is a variety derivative of the intraspecific varietal cross between GVhv 104 and GVhv 504. GADC 3 is semi open boll type in nature with determinant growth habit and smooth boll surface. Pedigree method of selection was used for development of high yielding genotypes under rainfed condition. Existing G. herbaceum cultivars show limited adaptability and productivity under the erratic rainfall and marginal soil conditions prevailing in the North West (Zone V) and Bhal & Coastal (Zone VIII) regions of Gujarat. A new cultivar with wider adaptability is essential to ensure stable yield performance under rainfed conditions. The variety GADC 3 (Wagad Gaurav) had produced average seed cotton yield of 2150 kg/ha. This variety gave 34.02, 15.01 and 27.54% higher seed cotton yield and 34.87, 26.67 and 27.28% higher lint yield over check varieties G. Cot.21, ADC 1 and GADC 2, respectively in the rainfed condition of Gujarat state.The ginning percentage (%) of GADC 3 is 44.8% which is equivalent with check variety G. Cot. 21 (44.2%) and higher than ADC 1(42.2%) and GADC 2 (43.8%). Seeds contain 14.9 % oil. GADC 3has recorded fibre length (upper half mean) of 22.7 mm, fibre fineness of 5.1µg/inch and bundle strength of 22.5 g/tex in HVI mode of fibre quality testing. The genotype GADC 3 was moderate tolerant to root rot, bacterial leaf blight, alternaria leaf blight and wilt as well as major pests including sucking pests and boll worm complex under field conditions. These results indicate that GADC 3 is well-suited for cultivation in Agro-climatic Zones V and VIII of Gujarat to achieve maximum yield and profit.