The California Planting Cotton Seed Distributors (CPCSD), a 100% grower-owned organization for the development and production of cotton varieties, is announcing the release of Acala Riata RR: a new transgenic cotton variety for the San Joaquin Valley of California. CPCSD’s Acala Riata RR is the first Acala cotton variety approved by the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board (SJVCB) to incorporate Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® technology. Evaluated under the experimental designation CPCSD C-176, Acala Riata RR completed the required three years of testing and was approved by the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board in March 2000. In the SJVCB’s testing program experimental cotton varieties seeking approval are evaluated against the SJVCB cotton standard, Acala Maxxa, and only cotton varieties judged as exceeding this standard qualify for approval by the board.

Acala Riata RR is characterized by excellent lint yield and fiber spinning performance (Table 1.). Acala Riata RR has produced yield increases as high as 11% during the three year (20 locations) SJVCB testing program, with an average yield improvement of 4%, and has a higher lint percent and gin turnout when compared to Acala Maxxa. The fiber and spinning traits of Acala Riata RR compare well to the SJVCB standard, and Acala Riata RR has a high degree of Verticillium-wilt tolerance.