ABSTRACT
Results are reported on the continuing effort to produce large quantities of diverse cottons with well-defined values of fineness and maturity. We are using the reference method for measuring fiber maturity based microscopic image analysis of thin sections of fiber bundles. Fiber samples representing the range of properties of U.S. cottons were obtained from cooperating cotton breeders. Two different software packages for assessing fiber maturity by image analysis, one from Leica International and another from Professor Bugao Xu, University of Texas, are being evaluated. Findings of the research indicate that: a) the image analysis reference method gives reliable data with a minimum of problems and is at a point where the technology can be transferred to other laboratories; b) producing a range of fiber maturities by selective harvesting from the plant gives reasonable differences in fiber area, perimeter, and micronaire, but only marginal differences in maturity; c) results from Leica and Xu are compatible but Xu's software is faster and easier to use; and d) micronaire measurements alone are not good predictors of fiber maturity.
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