TMG cotton cultivars demonstrate competitive advantages

The September survey by the Cotton Fiber Analysis Center of the Bahian Association of Cotton Producers (Abapa), an entity that is a reference in fiber quality analysis in Brazil, pointed out, in the Matopiba region (which covers Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia), that the cotton cultivars TMG 44B2RF and TMG 47B2RF present competitive advantages that can generate premiums for rural producers at the time of delivery for export of the lint.  

According to the data, intrinsic characteristics of the fiber quality of the two varieties, such as length (mm) and micronaire, are within the premium receiving range, according to the criteria of the National Cotton Exporters Agency (Anea) for premium range and discount. The results prove that the two TMG cotton cultivars tested deliver fiber quality premium, that is, of international export standard.

Abapa's laboratory analyzed 107,3 thousand samples of TMG 44B2RF and more than 56 thousand of TMG 47B2RF until September 4, 2019. In terms of length, more than 90% of the samples from both cultivars would be able to receive a premium of export. In the micronaire analysis, 100% of the samples comply with Anea's criteria and would not suffer a discount.

Sérgio Alberto Brentano, manager of the Abapa Cotton Fiber Analysis Center, comments that the survey data covers an excellent number of samples, from an extensive cotton production region and involves different producers. “The survey is very reliable, it is a statistically robust result”, he highlights.

Ramularia

Considered the main fungal disease in cotton farming, ramularia can cause enormous losses. One of the management methods to reduce the damage caused by the disease is the choice of tolerant varieties. RX Technology, developed by TMG, adds tolerance to ramularia in the TMG 44B2RF and TMG 47B2RF cultivars.

An experiment carried out in a research area in Campo Verde (MT) in the 2018/19 harvest and presented at the XI Cotton Technical Meeting of the Agricultural Research Support Foundation (MT Foundation), shows significant differences in the evolution of the disease in plants of the two cultivars, relative to competing varieties.

Carried out between the months of April and June, the trial determined that the TMG varieties presented a maximum of 7% severity, while competing cultivars reached severity rates close to 70% at the end of these 2 months.

In addition to helping to control ramularia, RX Technology allows the producer to reduce costs in the field, as cultivars with this benefit require 20% to 50% fewer fungicide applications with a high level of control.

Marcelo Kappes, cotton producer in Bahia and Piauí and president of the Bahia Rural Producers Cooperative (Cooperfarms), also assesses that RX Technology is a tool that offers security and savings. The cotton farmer explains that in his areas the reduction in fungicide applications is 40% to 50% with the planting of cultivars with the benefit.

Regarding the planting of TMG varieties, Marcelo states that decision-making is made based on internal analyzes and data from the Abapa laboratory. In the next summer harvest, the TMG 44B2RF will be in your fields, due to production stability, plume quality and management flexibility due to the presence of RX Technology. “Regionally we had a great response and this made us decide to increase the area with the cultivar”, he explains.

Productivity

The company's cotton portfolio also stands out for the average productivity obtained by the different varieties in the 18/19 harvest. In Bahia, the TMG 44B2RF obtained an average result of 389 @/ha, on 2.289 hectares. One of the most significant results of this cultivar in the state was 430 @/ha, in an area of ​​148 hectares.

Also in western Bahia, TMG 47B2RF achieved an average of 360 @/ha, in a total of 2.272 ha, and an excellent result of 416 @/ha in a commercial area of ​​100 ha. More results from these and other varieties and regions can be seen in www.tmg.agr.br.

Fiber yield

In the 18/19 harvest, TMG brought to the market the launch of TMG 61RF, a cultivar recommended for refuge and which stands out for presenting a high fiber yield, around 48%, while in the Brazilian market the yield of most cultivars reaches maximum 42%. In commercial areas partnered with TMG, the variety presented 53,1% lint yield (Mato Grosso), 47,36% (Bahia) and 50,5% (Minas Gerais).