Seed coat fragments (SCF) are portions of cottonseed that have broken off from mature or immature seeds and might or might not have attached cotton fibers. SCF are created during cotton harvesting or ginning processes. Additional factors that contribute to SCF include genetics (cultivar), environmental issues, weathering events, and cultural practices. SCF are the second most common impurity in textile products. Neps, which are entanglements of fibers, are the most common impurity and make up most imperfections found in yarn. SCF reduce processing efficiency by causing ends-down during spinning and lead to defects in fabrics. This article presents past research and current unpublished research that has been conducted on SCF. Discussions include: chemical and physical properties of the seed coat leading to SCF; ability to use genetic information to select for genotypes with low SCF potential; opportunities in variety development and G x E interactions; modifications of mechanical processing to reduce SCF; and textile mill impacts of SCF. Based on findings from these studies, future strategies to combat SCF include better understanding of the physiology of SCF components and how formation is impacted by the environment, modeling to predict favorable harvest and ginning conditions, and modifying ginning and textile machinery to reduce the formation and increase the removal of SCF in U.S. cotton.
