Central Institute for Cotton Research

Genetic Resources

Genetic Resources at ICAR-CICR

More than 12,335 accessions of Gossypium (G. hirsutum – 8851, G. barbadense – 536, G. arboreum – 2053, G. herbaceum – 565,Wild Species – 24, interspecific derivatives – 40, Perennials and land races – 254, Races and derivatives of cultivated species – 12) are being maintained at ICAR-CICR Cotton Gene Bank.

Sixty-nine (69) germplasm of desi cotton collected from different states of North Eastern Hill Region (NEH Region) were characterized and evaluated. Forty-Eight (48) germplasm consisting of G. hirsutum, G. arboreum and wild species were distributed to breeders/ scientists of CICR, State Agricultural Universities and Private Seed Companies for utilization in their cotton improvement programme.

A total of 52 G. herbaceum lines multiplied at Surat and 565 accessions multiplied at Nagpur were deposited in medium term storage (MTS). A total of 152 cultivated cotton germplasm was distributed.

Varieties developed and released for commercial cultivation:

ICAR-CICR has developed and released many improved varieties (Bt and non-Bt) and hybrids of cotton with fibre quality matching industrial requirements. Since inception, ICAR-CICR has developed and released 53 improved non-Bt cultivars of cotton for different zones of the country. These include23 varieties of Gossypium hirsutum including one coloured cotton variety, 6 varieties of G. arboreum, 3 varieties of G. barbadense, 7 intra-hirsutum hybrids, 2 interspecific hybrids (G. hirsutum x G. barbadense) and 1 intra-arboreum hybrid resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses with improved fibre qualities. The performance of these varieties/hybrids has been demonstrated on farmer’s fields in the respective areas of adaptability. During the last three years, the institute has also released and notified 11 Bt cotton varieties viz., ICAR-CICR Bt6 (RS2013), ICAR-CICR Bt 14 (CPT2), ICAR-CICR Bt 9 (SRI1), ICAR-CICR GJHV 374 Bt, ICAR-CICR PKV 081 Bt, ICAR-CICR Rajat Bt, ICAR-CICR Suraj Bt, ICAR-CICR 16 Bt, ICAR-CICR 23 Bt, ICAR-CICR 21 Bt and ICAR-CICR 25 Bt. These have been identified for commercial cultivation in Central as well as South Zone states. In addition to imparting resistance against Helicoverpa armigera, the seeds of these varieties are cheaper unlike costly F1 hybrids and farmers can reuse the seed over seasons.

Detailed list of Varieties and hybrids released by CICR (link to varieties and hybrids)

Unique germplasm lines registered with NBPGR:

Forty-nine (49) genetic stocks of G. hirsutum and G. arboreum have been registered for their unique, novel and distinct characteristics. These would serve to generate important cotton genotypes with economically important traits and unique morphological markers. Following are the genetic stocks registered after 2010:

S.No Botanical Name National Identity Donor Identifty INGR No. Year Novel Unique Features
1 G. hirsutum IC296770 CNO 131 10 2000 Early and synchronous maturity (130-140days ) escaping major pests, highyield (19.5q\ha) with medium ball size and higher percentage of seed oil and seed oil index
2 G. arboreum IC296777 G-135-49 17 2000 Immune to grey mould (Ramularia areola) in different gentic backgrounds
3 G. arboreum IC296778 30805 18 2000 Immune to grey mould (Ramularia areola) in different gentic backgrounds
4 G. hirsutum IC296905 LRA 5166 GMS Line 2012 2002 New GMS line
5 G. hirsutum IC325211 CNH 123 2021 2002 Resistant to cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV)
6 G. arboreum IC296857 30838 2020 2002 Immuned to gray mould (Ramularia areola)
7 G. arboreum IC296596 CINA-316 4079 2004 High locule retention and low short fiber content
8 G. hirsutum IC471863 BN-TOM-277 5019 2005 Diverse CMS source with Gossypium tomentosum cytoplasm and desirable features
9 G. hirsutum IC471864 BN-ARB-16 5020 2005 Diverse CMS source with Gossypium arboreum cytoplasm and desirable features
10 G. hirsutum IC549909 CSPF-1 7035 2007 Pink flower colour mutant
11 G. hirsutum IC549924 CPF-1 7036 2007 Pink Filament mutant
12 G. hirsutum IC538546 BN-RED 7049 2007 Resistance to spotted, pink and Heliothis bollworms
13 G. hirsutum IC538547 BN-OKRA 7050 2007 Resistance to spotted, pink and Heliothis bollworms
14 G. hirsutum IC553921 CIR-8 8031 2008 CMS red plant with bicolor flower
15 G. hirsutum IC553923 CIR-12 8032 2008 CMS green plant with yellow petal and anther
16 G. hirsutum IC553924 CIR-23 8033 2008 CMS green plant with yellow petal and anther
17 G. hirsutum IC553925 CIR-26 8034 2008 CMS with good fiber properties and agronomic attributes, restores fertility in G. harknessii based CMS
18 G. hirsutum IC553926 CIR-32 8035 2008 CMS green plant with yellow petal and cream anther & bold seed.
19 G. hirsutum IC553927 CIR-38 8036 2008 CMS Okra type with yellow petal and anther
20 G. hirsutum IC553928 CIR-47 8037 2008 CMS green plant with yellow petal & anther with highest boll weight
21 G. hirsutum IC553272 Raj-2006 8059 2008 Source of resistance to jassid
22 G. hirsutum IC561248 CINHTi 1 8088 2008 Trypsin inhibitor mediated tolerance to H. armigera
23 G. hirsutum IC561249 CINHTi 2 8089 2008 Trypsin inhibitor mediated tolerance to H. armigera
24 G. hirsutum IC563997 MSH-SP-91 8092 2008 Multi-species interspecific hybrid with zero monopodia and long pedicel
25 G. hirsutum IC563998 MSH-345 8093 2008 Multi-species interspecific hybrid with cleistogamous flowers and big round bolls (5.5g)
26 G. arboreum IC563968 ABC-5 8090 2008 Interspecific hybrid with five loculed bolls/capsules
27 G. arboreum IC563969 CATS-18 8091 2008 Thermo-sensitive genetic male sterile
28 G. arboreum IC439707 30814 9117 2009 Immune to grey mildew (Ramularia areola)
29 G. arboreum IC439721 30826 9118 2009 Immune to grey mildew (Ramularia areola)
30 G. arboreum IC439749 30856 9119 2009 Immune to grey mildew (Ramularia areola)
31 G. arboreum IC 538548 CISA-2 (GMS Line) 10057 2010 Spontaneous genetic male sterile mutant with yellow open flower & red petal spot & green plant body
32 G. hirsutum IC 584053 ABGMS (CSHN) 10058 2010 Genetic Male sterile line with curved stigma
33 G. arboreum IC 583996 CINA 333 10059 2010 MHLL, YFYA, High seed cotton yield potential cultivar, high volume of capsules, long claw of petals
34 G. hirsutum Race: latifolium IC 583997 SLL 33 10060 2010 Single leaf lobe (Marker trait), YFYA, Oval to conical
35 G. hirsutum Race: latifolium IC 583998 YPLL 29 10061 2010 Yellow pigmented leaf lobe (Marker trait), exerted stigam, WFCA
36 G. hirsutum Race: latifolium IC 583999 CSLL 59 10062 2010 Cup shaped leaf lobe (Marker trait), Big size boll, Dense hairy
37 G. hirsutum IC 587405 CNH 301 11061 2011 Drought tolerant nature & yield stability, JBWR, High bearing, YFCA
38 G.hirsutum IC0584260 Vaidehi 95 (MSH-53) 13032 2013 Dark brown lint colour
39 G.hirsutum IC0584261 NISC-40 13033 2013 Jassid tolerance
40 G.hirsutum IC0584262 NISC-43 13034 2013 Jassid tolerance
41 G. hirsutum IC0584263 NISC-44 13035 2013 Jassid tolerance
42 G. arboreum IC0597395 CNA 5 14005 2014 Inter-racial pigmented arboreum
43 G. hirsutum IC0597397 CNH CB 211 14058 2014 Cluster boll bearing habit, deeply palmate leaf lobe
44 G.hirsutum IC0597398 CNH CB 212 14059 2014 Cluster boll bearing habit, zero monopodia and compact habit
45 Gossypium arboreum IC0613959 CNA 405 15005 2015 Narrow leaf lobed & brown lint
46 Gossypium arboreum IC 0613960 CAN 407 (Spotted petals) 15024 2015 Spotted petals and light brown linted
47 Gossypium arboreum IC 0613961 CAN 407 (Spotless petals) 15025 2015 Spotless petals and light brown linted
48 Gossypium arboreum IC 0613964 CNA 1051 15016 2015 Distinct yellow top leaves mutant
49 Gossypium hirsutum IC 0611336 CNH 1102 15015 2015 High ginning out turn, resistant to BLB,long staple and high strength
50 Gossypium hirsutum – CNH 204710 21213 2021 High GOT line (above 40%)
51 Gossypium arboreum IC 0626294 CISG 20 (GMS) 20076 2021 GMS line with fully open red flower facilitating easy crossing, has petal spot and plant is red pigmented
52 G.barbadense IC0641999 CCB 12 21212 2021 Occurrence of cleistogamous flowers

Cotton Germplasm Resources:

ICAR-CICR, Nagpur maintains one of the largest cotton gene bank, a germplasm collection, of the world with 12,336 accessions of the cultivated and wild species of Gossypium species including perennials, landraces and inter-specific derivatives.

Sl.No Species Number of accessions
1. G. hirsutum 8851
2. G. barbadense 536
3. G. arboreum 2053
4. G. herbaceum 565
5. Wild Species 25
6. Interspecific Derivatives 40
7. Perennials and land races 254
8. Races and derivatives of all 4 species 12
Total Collection 12336

Conservation of traditional landraces:

Two hundred and fifty four cotton germplasm including 177 perennials, 44 landraces and 33 traditional cultivars belonging to G. arboreum, G. herbaceum and G. barbadense were collected from different states of India viz., Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram (North Eastern Hill region), Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh (Central India), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (South India). The important landraces Karunganni cotton (G. arboreum race ‘indicum’), Ponduru Cotton (G. arboreum race ‘indicum’), Mathio (G. arboreum race ‘indicum’) and Comilla (G. arboreum race cernuum) were collected. All the collected germplasm variants were established in the field conditions and the seeds were stored for conservation in the medium term cold storage.

Primitive/indigenous cotton germplasm collected
S.No Regions Explored State Year No. of Accessions Species
1 Bhandara, Wardha,Nagpur, Washim & Parbhani Maharashtra 2011 22 G. arboreum
3 G. barbadense
2. Sehore Madhya Pradesh 2011 8 G. arboreum
3. Jalpaiguri West Bengal 2011 5 G. barbadense
4. East Godavari, West Godavari, Jammikunta & Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh 2011 21 G. arboreum
5. West Garo Hills Meghalaya 2011 26 G. arboreum
6. Aizawl, Mamit, Kolasib & Serchip, Mizoram 2011 13 G. arboreum
16 G. barbadense
7. Vishakapatnam, Vizianagaram & Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh 2012 3 G. arboreum
1 G. barbadense
8. Bhandara, Nagpur & Wardha Maharashtra 2012 2 G. arboreum
5 G. barbadense
9. Gomati, West Tripura, Kowai & Dhalai Tripura 2012 10 G. arboreum
4 G. barbadense
10. Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surendranagar & Banaskantha Gujarat 2012 11 G. herbaceum
6 G. arboreum
11. Tuticorin Tamil Nadu 2012 7 G. arboreum
1 G. herbaceum
12. mphal West, Senapati, Thoubal, Tamenglong, Bishnupur, Imphal East & Chandel Manipur 2013 16 G. barbadense
13. Wardha Maharashtra 2013 2 G. barbadense
14. Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha & Kachchh Gujarat 2013 5 G. herbaceum
4 G. arboreum
1 G. barbadense
15. West Siang, East Siang, Upper Siang and Dibang valley Arunachal Pradesh 2014 17 G. arboreum
14 G. barbadense
16. Indore & Khandwa Madhya Pradesh 2014 1 G. arboreum
2 G. barbadense
17. Wardha, Hinganghat, Chandrapur, Nandurbar & Dhule Maharashtra 2014 1 G. arboreum
8 G. barbadense
18. Raichur, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Uttarakannada, Davangere, Chitradurga, Bellary Karnataka 2014 10 G. arboreum
6 G. barbadense
19. Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia and Yavatmal Maharashtra 2015 2 G. arboreum
9 G. barbadense
20. Karbi anglong Assam 2016 2 G. arboreum
6 G. barbadense
1 G. hirusutum
21. Phek Nagaland 2016 3 G. arboreum
5 G. barbadense
22. South 24 Paraganas and North 24 parangas West Bengal 2017 9 G. barbadense
32 G. hirusutum
23. Nuapada Odisha 2017 3 G. barbadense
Information Compiled by Dr. M. Sabesh, Dr.A.Manivannan Source: CICR Annual reports; NBPGR website updated: 25:04:2023
Scroll to Top