Motes (aborted ovules) and immature seeds are potential sources of neps. In addition to immature fibers (which may cause neps), the seed coat of immature seeds may fragment and cause neps. Locks from bolls of five cultivars were separated, laid out in sequence and the position of the seed in each placental row of each lock (numbering from base to tip) was identified as a mote, immature, or mature seed. Each locule contained twin parallel placental ridges upon which the ovules were borne. Comparison of placental positions in the same locule or adjacent locule (sharing same carpel wall) showed no definite patterns for interaction of a defective ovule being associated with another defective ovule in an adjacent position, but rather the adjacent position was usually a mature seed.