🔬 Technical Specifications

⚙️ How It Works (Bollgard II Technology)

Srikar Garuda-99 provides internal, round-the-clock biological defense against caterpillars thanks to its Bollgard II technology:

🐛 Dual-Protein Armor: The plant is genetically engineered to produce two specific Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab).

🛑 Fatal to Bollworms: When highly destructive pests like the American Bollworm, Spotted Bollworm, and the dreaded Pink Bollworm attempt to feed on the plant's leaves, squares, or bolls, they ingest these proteins. The proteins immediately bind to their gut, paralyzing their digestive system. The worms stop feeding within hours and die completely, keeping your crop entirely safe!

✨ Key Features & Benefits

☁️ Excellent Boll Size: Produces highly uniform, well-filled bolls weighing 5.5 to 6.0 grams, ensuring a heavy and profitable kapas weight per picking.

🌿 Robust Plant Habit: The plant features a sturdy, semi-erect frame that firmly holds its branches and bolls, drastically reducing the risk of lodging (falling) during strong winds or heavy rain.

🛡️ High Pest Tolerance: Along with comprehensive BG II protection against bollworms, Garuda-99 exhibits strong natural field tolerance to early-season sucking pests like Jassids and Aphids.

💰 High Boll Retention: The plant has a fantastic holding capacity, ensuring that maximum squares and flowers successfully convert into harvestable bolls without dropping.

👨‍🌾 Easy & Clean Picking: Features excellent boll bursting with a fluffy opening, making manual harvesting very smooth and reducing the trash content in your final yield.

📋 Agronomic Recommendations & Sowing Details

Standard Seed Packet Size: 475 Grams

💡 PRO-TIP FOR MAHARASHTRA FARMERS: Because Srikar Garuda-99 (SS-1188) is a robust performer that thrives in medium to heavy soils, it is a fantastic choice for the fertile agricultural belts across the Amravati district and the broader Vidarbha region! To maximize its exceptional boll retention capabilities, apply a foliar spray of a specialized amino acid and micronutrient blend during the peak square formation stage to prevent flower drop and boost boll weight.

🛡️ Safety & Farming Precautions

Refuge Planting is Mandatory: To prevent pink bollworms from developing resistance to the Bt proteins, it is a legal requirement to plant non-Bt (Refuge) cotton seeds around the borders of your main field. Always follow the refuge planting instructions printed on the packet.

Seed Storage: Keep unopened seed packets stored securely in a cool, dry, and dark place until you are ready to sow to maintain optimal germination vigor.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Even with BG II protection, monitor your fields weekly for sucking pests. Apply appropriate, targeted insecticides only if pest populations cross the Economic Threshold Level (ETL).