Registration of Cotton Germplasm USDA MD 16‐1 and USDA MD 16‐2 with Enhanced Lint Yield and Fiber Quality

Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm USDA MD 16‐1 (Reg. No. CV‐138, PI 682133), and USDA MD 16‐2 (Reg. No. CV‐139, PI 682134) have enhanced yield and good fiber quality. These germplasm lines were developed by the USDA‐ARS, Stoneville, MS, and released on 27 June 2017. Two crosses, MD 25‐51 × MD 10‐9‐1 and MD 25‐51 × MD 10‐9‐10 were made at the Jamie Whitten Delta State Research Center, USDA‐ARS, Stoneville, in 2010. The F 1 population was grown at the winter nursery in Mexico in 2010. The F 2 populations were planted at Stoneville in 2011. One boll per plant was bulked, and the F 3 population was grown in 2012. This process was repeated during 2013 (F 4 ). In 2014, individual plants (F 5 ) were selected for progeny rows. In 2015 (F 6 ) and 2016 (F 7 ) selected progeny rows were tested for yield and fiber quality, and one progeny row from MD 25‐51 × MD 10‐9‐1 (named USDA MD 16‐1) and another progeny row from MD 25‐51 × MD 10‐9‐10 (named USDA MD 16‐2) were identified for their superior lint yield and fiber quality. During 2015 and 2016, the two germplasm were planted along with the check cultivars in randomized complete designs at Stoneville and were evaluated at the 2016 Regional Breeders’ Testing Network (RBTN) test across 13 locations spanning across all cotton growing regions. Data were collected on lint yield and quality parameters. Data at Stoneville indicated that both USDA MD 16‐1 and USDA MD 16‐2 had 9 to 16% and 6 to 14% higher lint yield than the two check cultivars, MD 25 and MD 10‐5, respectively In the 2016 RBTN across 13 locations, USDA MD 16‐1 was the top yielder (1710 kg ha −1 ), and USDA MD 16‐2 had the strongest fiber (355 kN m kg −1 ).