MULTAN     -   The expert sub-committee of Punjab Seed Council (PSC) has rec­ommended two new Bt cot­ton varieties developed by scientists of Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan, for PSC approval, CCRI Multan spokesman said. Recommendations were finalized in PSC’s ex­pert sub-committee’s 83rd meeting held at Ayub Agri­culture Research Institute (AARI) Faisalabad with chief scientist AARI in the chair. Total seven varieties were presented in the expert sub-committee meeting and five of them were recommended for approval including two from CCRI Multan i.e Bt Cyto-537, and Bt CIM-343. Two varieties of National In­stitute of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering (NIB­GE) and one from Cotton Research Station, Faisala­bad also won recommenda­tions. CCRI Multan director Dr. Zahid Mahmood and breeding section head Dr. Idrees Khan had briefed the experts sub-committee. Dr. Zahid disclosed that CCRI was also working on some climate smart vari­eties that can survive the change in weather condi­tions. He said, CCRI has country’s biggest breed­ing programme capable of producing varieties that can meet almost all chal­lenges. The two CCRI Mul­tan varieties recommended by expert sub committee possess the traits of good quality of fibre, resistance against virus and diseases, and can survive extreme hot weather and low wa­ter availability. Both seed varieties have a production potential of 50 maunds per acre, Dr. Zahid added.