Research Triangle Park, NNorth Carolina, USA
January 27, 2026
BASF is further expanding its industry-leading seed portfolio with the addition of three new Stoneville® cotton varieties for the 2026 growing season.
All new varieties for 2026 include Axant® Flex technology, cotton’s first and only quad-stacked herbicide trait*, and three-gene insect control with the TwinLink® Plus trait.
“Our new Stoneville varieties are designed to give cotton growers doing the biggest job on Earth the confidence they need to tackle the toughest challenges in their fields,” said Bryan Perry, Head of U.S. Seeds and Traits for BASF Agricultural Solutions. “A successful season starts with the right seed, and with Stoneville and FiberMax cotton, we’re helping farmers lay the groundwork for strong yields and premium fiber quality.”
The high-performing new varieties include:
- ST 4130AXTP: An early-maturing variety with excellent early-season vigor and large seed size. This variety is a good fit on both productive and challengeing soil types and has great fiber quality for the Eastern Cotton Belt. It also features root-knot and reniform nematode tolerance.
- ST 4650AXTP: An early-to-mid maturing variety with high-yield potential and great early-season vigor for the Eastern Cotton Belt. This variety is broadly adapted for both productive and challenging soil types and features root-knot nematode tolerance and bacterial leaf blight resistance.
- ST 5260AXTP: A mid-maturity variety with consistent performance in the Mid-South with easy-to-manage plant height and a complete trait package for protection against root-knot and reniform nematodes, as well as bacterial leaf blight resistance.
For more information on seed varieties, visit Stoneville.com or FiberMax.com.
*Currently, Alite® ISO and Engenia® Herbicides are anticipated to receive registrations for use on cotton containing the Axant® Flex technology for use during the 2026 season, but due to unforeseen delays outside of BASF’s control, the timing of such registrations is uncertain. As of the date of this publication, Alite ISO and Engenia Herbicides are not registered for use on cotton containing the Axant® Flex technology and are not available for sale. BASF is working to obtain these registrations for use in 2026 but cannot guarantee that registrations will occur in time for application. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of these products. Any sale of these products after registration is obtained shall be based solely on the EPA approved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label. BASF does not guarantee the results of this cottonseed, and grower is solely responsible for farming management and agronomic practices and decisions, including, without limitation, selecting seed best suitable for the intended growth and use under grower’s local conditions.
*Additional state restrictions may apply. Crops not containing a gene expressing an HPPD protein will not be tolerant of Alite ISO herbicide.
Topics
Species
