A hybridization and selection program started in 1963 at the Cotton Section of the Agronomic Institute at Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil, by intercrossing the wild cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. var. yucatanense Hutch., a primitive variety from Vietnam; eight american and two São Paulo varieties. The main goal of this breeding program was to combine high yield, Fusarium wilt resistance and high fiber resistance in an improved variety. After nine years of selection and progeny evaluation of the hybrid populations obtained, plus five years of pedigree selection and two years more of regional variety tests, the cultivar IAC 19 was obtained and released for growers. 'IAC 19' replaced 'IAC 16' with outstanding increases in yield, wilt and nematodes resistance as well as fiber and yarn qualities. It has been advantageous for growers by its improved yield, boll weight, seed size and lint percentage.
cotton; plant breeding; yield; fiber resistance; Fusarium wilt resistance