As cotton producers prepare for #Plant25, over 20 new cotton varieties are commercially available. Here is the annual roundup, featuring the 2025 releases that provide an array of options for farmers throughout the Cotton Belt.
Deltapine
Deltapine announced four new varieties at the New Product Evaluator (NPE) Summit held this past December in Nashville, Tenn. Each is a Bollgard 3 with XtendFlex (B3XF), with two containing the ThryvOn biotechnology trait (B3TXF).
DP 2537 B3TXF is a mid- to full maturing variety and is highlighted as the latest maturing ThryvOn variety in the Deltapine portfolio. DP 2537 B3TXF has an open canopy and is targeted to the lower Midsouth and upper Southeast regions.
As a bonus, this variety shows a step change up in yield potential for B3TXF technology.
Tim Dabbert, cotton technical product and strategy lead at Deltapine, described DP 2537 B3TXF as having excellent strength of terminal – meaning timely utilization of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is key.
DP 2522NR B3TXF is early to mid-maturing and is bacterial blight resistant. It is targeted toward reniform nematode infestations, and the variety demonstrates stable yield performance in a wide range of regions including the Costal Bend of South Texas, lower Midsouth, and Southeast.
There is enthusiasm around this cotton varietal release. Dabbert said, “This is a very good product that we are excited to have. It will be the first reniform ThryvOn product.”
DP 2525 B3XF is an early to mid-maturing variety, resistant to bacterial blight. Plus, it is moderately tolerant to Verticillium wilt for cotton growers in the Northern High Plains of Texas.
In 2024 NPE testing, DP 2525 B3XF showed comparable yield performance to varieties DP 1822 XF and DP 1820 B3XF with the potential to produce higher fiber quality.
Of the NPE evaluators who evaluated DP 2525 B3XF, more than 85% approved and rated it as “likely to purchase.”
DP 2541 B3XF is mid- to full maturity, with bacterial blight resistance and moderate tolerance to Verticillium wilt. This variety showed improved yield performance over DP 1646 B2XF and DP 2335 B3XF in NPE testing in the Southern High Plains of Texas.
Dabbert described DP 2541 B3XF as a “racehorse variety” with good top yield performance.
BASF
In 2025, BASF will have six new varieties. All new BASF varieties contain three-gene insect control, along with the TwinLink plus trait. These FiberMax and Stoneville varieties have advanced to the market after thorough testing across the Cotton Belt.
“We know for farmers to be successful they need top-end genetics and leading traits to combat the many challenges that threaten yield potential. That is why every year, new BASF varieties are advanced after thorough testing, including on-farm, real-world Agronomic Performance Trials conducted at over 200 locations across the Cotton Belt,” said Kenny Melton, Western Region Agronomic Manager at BASF.
FM 757 AXTPX is an early maturing variety targeted to the Southwest U.S. region. FM 757AXTP is resistant to bacterial blight and performs well on a variety of soil types. It is also easy to manage and produces great fiber quality.
FM 814 AXTP is an early to mid-maturing, most adept to the Northern and High Plains of Texas and the Rolling Plains of Oklahoma. FM 814AXTP is easily managed, resistant to bacterial blight, and touts excellent tolerance to Verticillium wilt. Plus, it is tolerant to root-knot nematode and Fusarium wilt.
ST 4215 AXTP is an early maturing variety and should be planted in the Delta, Mid-Atlantic, or western regions of the U.S. This variety is well suited for irrigation, resistant to bacterial blight, and contains the three-gene insect control with the TwinLink Plus trait.
ST 4833 AXTP is early to mid-maturing and best for the Delta, Mid-Atlantic, and far west regions of the U.S.
ST 4833 AXTP is a tall plant height, with large seed size and excellent emergence. This variety has the ability to perform well on dryland and sandy soils. Additionally, it boasts a great disease package with tolerance to root-knot nematode, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, and resistance to bacterial blight.
ST 5855 AXTP is a mid- to full maturing variety adapted to Upland acres across the Cotton Belt, with a good stalk on sandier soils. ST 5885 AXTP is tolerant to root knot nematode and resistant to bacterial blight and produces great micronaire and strength.
ST 5931 AXTP is mid to full maturity with a large seed size and excellent emergence. This variety is adept to Upland cotton acres across the Cotton Belt, with good performance on versatile soil types. Plus, ST 5931 AXTP is resistant blight, reniform and root knot nematode, and is tolerant to Fusarium wilt and Verticillium wilt.
Armor Seed
Armor Seed offers a new variety in 2025, with Bollgard 3 ThryvOn XtendFlex technology and resistance to root knot nematode, the company’s first cottonseed variety to offer this kind of defense.
Armor 9245 B3TXF is a mid-maturing variety that produces good early season vigor, plus it touts impressive boll set and retention. It is shown to perform well in challenging environments – ranging from a wet and late start to hot and dry end-of-season conditions.
Armor 9245 B3TXF is geared toward the Mississippi Delta and Southeast region of the Cotton Belt, and its performance is comparable to Armor 9383 B3TXF in those growing environments.
Due to its trait package, Armor 9245 B3TXF is easily managed, with protection from early- and late-season insect damage. This also contributes to vigorous growth characteristics, having a strong plant growth regulator program is key.
Looking back at 2024, West Texas experienced an overall challenging season. However, Armor varieties released in 2023 and 2024 held up under tough conditions.
“Armor 9442 XF and Armor 9413 XF, have a great fit in the West Texas dryland market. Armor 9413 XF can also be used as an irrigated variety,” the company said in a press release.
West Texas cotton producer Anthony Albus said, “I have planted Armor 9442 XF the last two years, and it has helped better than anything under the tough conditions we have experienced in Hockley County.”
Americot
In 2025, Americot offers four new NexGen cotton varieties, and Product Development Manager Robert Lemon shared what growers can expect.
NG 3434 B3XF is a Bollgard 3 XtendFlex is early to mid-maturing, with exceptional yield potential and outstanding fiber quality. The variety is adapted to West Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and it has demonstrated great performance in this geography – in both high and low water environments.
NG 3434 B3XF is described as easily managed, requiring minimal PGR management, and it boasts a long staple, high turnout and excellent storm tolerance.
NG 3572 B3TXF is an early to mid-maturing Bollgard 3 ThryvOn XtendFlex variety that is well adapted to the Midsouth. Lemon said this variety has excellent high yield potential and should be placed in irrigated environments or on very strong soils.
NG 3572 B3TXF has performed very well in nematode environments. Growers can expect the turnout percentage for NG 3572 B3TXF to be extremely high. Plus, Lemon said this variety has a medium plant height and is very responsive to PGR, so there is no need to be overly aggressive.
NG 4507 B3TXF is a mid-maturing variety with the Bollgard 3 ThryvOn XtendFlex trait package. It is resistant to bacterial blight, and Lemon said NG 4507 B3TXF has performed very well in the Midsouth and across the Cotton Belt.
This variety features excellent seedling vigor, high yield potential, and superior fiber quality with exceptionally long staple. Plant height is mid to tall, and NG 4507 B3TXF is responsive to PGR management.
NG 2535 B3TXF is a very early maturing variety, with Bollgard 3 ThryvOn XtendFlex technology. Lemon said, “It has performed very well in the Texas Panhandle, and it is adapted to short-season environments or late-planted situations.”
NG 2535 B3TXF has outstanding seedling vigor and fiber quality, is resistant to bacterial blight, and shows good tolerance to Verticillium wilt. Lemon described NG 2535 B3TXF as having a short, compact growth habit that is extremely easy to manage.
PhytoGen
Get ready for 2026. While PhytoGen does not have new varieties to hit the market in 2025, testing is ongoing with exceptional releases anticipated for next year. Those expected varieties are in the final advancement stages with large scale, on-farm studies in 2025.
“We test on a much larger scale in the final year of testing,” said PhytoGen Cotton Portfolio Leader Joel Faircloth. “Everything we have to advance in the Upland market, from the Southwest Plains, all the way to Virginia, has a full host of PhytoGen Breeding Traits and the Enlist cotton trait.”
This trait package raises the bar to meet a higher demand for Enlist.
“We are experiencing a tremendous amount of demand for PhytoGen varieties with the Enlist trait right now,” Faircloth said. “We’re excited about our proven portfolio for the 2025 season, and new varieties in 2026 will add even more opportunities for growers. These varieties carry the full package of PhytoGen Breeding Traits to fit the mold for every region.”
Looking back at 2024, Faircloth said the Upland variety PHY 475 W3FE had a good year and a tremendous amount of demand. PHY 475 W3FE is specific to the lower Alabama and Georgia markets, with some reach into South Carolina. PHY 411 W3FE is another top mid-maturing Upland variety that performed well last season and comes with root-knot and reniform nematode resistance.
Then, for the Pima market, PHY 861 RF with Roundup Ready Flex boasts improved yield and fiber quality along with weed control and includes tolerance to Fusarium Race 4. This variety is grown in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
Faircloth said testing for new Pima varieties is also ongoing. “We have two varieties that will be wide scale tested and could be introduced in 2026. This will bring a new level of FOV4 tolerance.”
Faircloth said, “What drives us is what our growers need.”
