Esquel Group Adds Two New Extra-Long Staple Cotton Varieties Approved
Esquel Group’s Xinjiang Research & Development Center has successfully developed two new Sea Island cotton (Extra-Long-Staple cotton, ELS cotton) varieties named “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42,” which have been officially approved and granted registration numbers. Both varieties have also obtained Plant Variety Rights certificates, marking another significant breakthrough for the Group in cotton breeding and commercial application.
To date, Esquel has bred and received official approval for eight ELS cotton varieties, namely “Xinhai 33,” “Xinhai 50,” “Xinhai 55,” “Xinhai 63,” “Yuan Loong 17,” “Yuan Loong 30,” as well as the newly approved “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42.”
Both new varieties exhibit desirable agronomic characteristics, including robust plant structure, high yield potential, and broad adaptability, as well as good disease resistance and harvest performance.
“Yuan Loong 37” has shown exceptional performance across multiple trials, ranking among the top in production tests with a yield increase of over 13%. In commercial cultivation, its yield and fiber quality have reached premium standards, demonstrating stable performance and promising improvement potential.
“Yuan Loong 42” has likewise performed remarkably during the trial phase, ranking first in production trials with a yield increase of over 18%. It features an average fiber length of 37.6 millimeters, with excellent fiber quality, strength, and uniformity, fully meeting the stringent requirements of high-end spinning applications.
Premium ELS cotton serves as a cornerstone of Esquel’s vertically integrated supply chain. The successful approval of these new varieties further enhances the Group’s innovation capabilities at the raw material stage. It provides a more stable and higher-quality foundation for the development of high-count combed yarns and advanced functional fabrics, while enhancing product value proposition and reinforcing market competitiveness.