NDLH 2051-1: a high-yield, sucking pest-tolerant cultivar of cotton

: NDLH 2051-1 has a mean seed cotton yield potential of 1590 kg ha -1 and has been singled out for commercial cultivation in the south and central zones of India by the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, India. This cultivar represents an essential contribution to sustainable cotton produc tion in India. adaptable to the rainfed agricultural system. The program focuses on yield, fiber quality, and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance ability. The variety NDLH 2005-4 (Nandyal Hirsutum 2005-4) was developed with a mean seed cotton yield potential of (1380 kg ha -1 ) and sucking pest tolerance with mean jassid injury grade (2.2), jassids/3 leaves (8.1), white flies/3 leaves (12.2), and aphids/3 leaves (48.7). To improve productivity, it is essential to develop cultivars with more significant yield potential, better fiber traits, and higher pest and disease tolerance than the existing varieties. Considering the importance of production and productivity of cotton crop in India under rainfed farming, the presen tstudy was undertaken to develop acultivar with high-yield potential, superior fiber traits, and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance suitable for rainfed conditions in India. We report a new variety, NDLH 2051-1 (Nandyal Hirsutum 2051-1), that possesses high mean seed cotton yield, high-quality fiber traits, and sucking pest tolerance to jassids, whiteflies, thrips, and aphids. This cultivar represents a fundamental contribution to cotton production in India’s central and southern zones.