The compacted boll, which is one of many factors of the stormproof boll, has been shown to be inherited through a single dominate gene. This trait has been assigned the cymbol Cd.

A test for linkage of the compacted boll and other plant traits has indicated linkage with petal spot. Based on backcross data and a lack of agreement from the F2 data, this linkage has tentatively been accepted, placing compacted boll on chromosome 7 in linkage group I.