Deltapine 16 Deltapine 16 was derived from a 1959 cross of Deltapine Smooth Leaf and a selection from Fox 4. The Fox 4 selection, Fox 4-4205, was later released as Deltapine 45. The cross for Deltapine 16 was an example of trying to combine the best material from within a breeding program. Deltapine Smooth Leaf had been released in 1957 and was a direct selection from the widely grown variety Deltapine 15. In the late 1950's, mechanical harvest was increasing rapidly and the smooth leaf characteristic improved grades of mechanically harvested cotton. Deltapine Smooth Leaf was best adapted to central and southern Mid-South areas. Fox 4-4205 was from the program series that provided greater earliness and resistance to Fusarium wilt. The Fox series was better adapted to the northern half of the Mid-South. Company seed sales at that time were about 15% for the Fox series and 85% for the Deltapine Series.