In 1994, Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company will have the experimental strain X9573 available for wide-scale introduction to cotton producers. (The commercial number will be published in early 1994.) Parentage includes the two widely-adapted varieties STONEVILLE 453 and DES 119. Early-generation development occurred at Leland, MS; three-year yield evaluations with cotton producers were performed in 1991-1993 at over 40 sites from North Carolina to California.

In a three-year (1991-93) yield comparison at 41 sites belt-wide, X9573 produced an average lint yield of 1432 lb./acre, which was 114% of STONEVILLE 453 yield (1261 lbs.) and 110% of DES 119 yield (1298 lbs.). In a two-year (1992-93) comparison with Deltapine 5415 at 33 locations belt-wide, X9573 yielded 1374 lbs./acre, 112% of DP 5415 yield (1231 lbs.).

X9573 is similar in maturity to STONEVILLE 453, with a more open fruiting habit (similar to DES 119), and with reduced leaf hair compared to either parent. Lint "turn-out" is 1 to 2 points higher than STONEVILLE 453. Disease resistance is similar to STONEVILLE 453; also, a greater ease of defoliation has been consistently observed.

A 3-year comparison with STONEVILLE 453 for fiber properties (1991-1993, 41 locations belt-wide) has found similar length (1.11 for X9573, 1.11 for STONEVILLE 453), an increase in strength (27 vs. 26), similar micronaire (4.6 vs. 4.4), a slight increase in uniformity ratio (83.3 vs. 82.7), and a slight increase in elongation (7.0 vs. 6.6).