CRDI-2 Cotton Variety

CRDI-2, locally known named Sebastian, was developed by the Cotton Research and Development Institute (now CODA) and approved as a commercial cotton variety by the National Seed Industry council in 1995 after several years of improvements and adaptability tests under local conditions. It is an improved population of McNair 220 that was introduced in the Philippines from the United States of America in 1984.

CRDI-2 is a consistent high yielder. Its compact, close-branching features make it an excellent variety for cotton-garlic and cotton-legume intercropping.

Yield and agronomic features

CRDI-2 yields an average of 2.125 metric tons (MT) of seedcotton per hectare with lint recovery of 41%. This means that a hectare could produce 0.87 MT of lint and 1.254 MT of cottonseeds.

CRDI-2 reaches a height of 90.3 centimeters at maturity. It matures within 113 days after emeregence. Each plant can bear an average of 9.1 bolls with an average of 5.24 grams per boll.

Fiber properties

CRDI-2 has the following fiber properties: medium fiber (27.61 mm), average fineness (4.55 µg/in), average strength (19.61 g/tex). All these properties satisfy the requirements of the local textile millers.

Reaction to pests

CRDI-2 is resistant to the damping-off causing pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. Morover, it is highly resistant to Diplodia gossypina which cause boll rot.

Adaptability

CRDI-2 is best suited in the cotton producing areas of the Ilocos Region and the Visayas.