Effects of Fruiting Position on Field and Fiber Quality in Commercial Cotton

Barry Knight, Johnie N. Jenkins, and Jack C. McCarty


 
ABSTRACT

There are many commercial cotton, Gossypsium hirsutum L., cultivars from which a producer may chose. Five cultivars, 'Stoneville 825', 'CAMD-E', Deltapine 50', 'McNair 235', and 'DES 119' were studied in the field on the Plant Science Research Farm at Mississippi State, MS to determine their yield, where the yield occurred on the plant and the relationship between fruit locations and fiber quality. Each cultivar was replicated five times for two years. Plants within each replication were mapped by position. Lint samples from a cultivar were composited over position to determine the average fiber characteristics.

Deltapine 50, McNair 235 and DES 119 yielded significantly more than Stoneville 825 and CAMD-E. Seed cotton yield from monopodial branches did not differ significantly among cultivars. Sympodial branch yield was significantly different between cultivars. Differences in yield were due to the number of bolls or boll size. Deltapine 50 has the most bolls while McNair 235 has the largest bolls.

Micronaire readings decreased from node 5 to 21 and from position 1 to 3 on a branch. The longest fibers (2.5% Span Length) were from bolls on branches 9 thru 14 at the first positions. Elongation (E1) increased from position 1 to 3 and from node 5 to 21. Strength (T1) was highest on branches 9 thru 14. T1 reading's decreased from positions 1-3.



Reprinted from 1988 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pg. 121
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998