HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Saleem, M. B. Articles by Buxton, D. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Saleem, M. B. Articles by Buxton, D. R. Agricola Articles by Saleem, M. B. Articles by Buxton, D. R.

Carbohydrate Status of Narrow Row Cotton as Related to Vegetative and Fruit Development¹

Narrow row, high population culture is a promising system for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production; but with improper management the dynamic balance between vegetative and fruit development can be upset, resulting in low lint yields. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of plant carbohydrate status to vegetative and fruit development. Plant dry weights and total available carbohydrates (TAG) were compared during two seasons in narrow row cotton planted at population densities of 7.4, 14.8, and 22.2 plants/m³. Although large differences occurred in plant size, TAG levels among the three populations were similar during the various sampling dates. TAG had a cyclic pattern with low levels during mid-season. This depression coincided with a rapid increase in fruiting form weight when lint yields were high and with a rapid increase in vegetative weight when lint yields were low. This excessive vegetative growth can effectively compete with fruiting forms for TAG. In a related experiment, TAG levels along plant axes were lowest near the central part of the plant where developing bolls were located. This shows that the TAG depression can be relatively localized within plants suggesting that photosynthates are not effectively translocated from the top to the central part of the plant. Restructuring of the plant canopy to allow more solar radiation penetration to leaves near developing bolls and/or selecting for more efficient translocation from upper leaves to developing bolls should help increase yields.

Key Words: Total available carbohydrates • Boll development • Rank growth • Narrow row cotton • Gossypium hirsutum

² Former graduate student (now Gezira Res. Stn., Agric. Res. Corp., Wad-Medani, Sudan) and associate professor, Dep. of Plant Sciences, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Received for publication October 1, 1975.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. D. Siebert, A. M. Stewart, and B. R. Leonard Comparative Growth and Yield of Cotton Planted at Various Densities and Configurations Agron. J., April 11, 2006; 98(3): 562 - 568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]