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Development of Cotton Fruit. III. Amino Acid Accumulation in Protein and Nonprotein Nitrogen Fractions of Cottonseed¹

This study was conducted to determine the metabolic events occurring during cottonseed development as revealed by N and amino acid compositions of both the whole seed and the free amino acid pool. Flowers on field grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants were tagged the day of anthesis, and bolls were sampled at intervals between 10 days after bloom and maturity. Developing seed were analyzed for both total N and nonprotein N (NPN). While total N was accumulated by the seed throughout development, NPN increased until 21 days after anthesis and then declined. At boll opening, only about 1% of the total N was in the NPN fraction.

Amino acid compositions of the seed and the NPN fraction were also determined. In juvenile seed tissue, over 50% of the NPN was accounted for by asparagine. Other amino acids prominent in this free amino acid pool of young cottonseed were, in descending order, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and arginine. At maturity, asparagine and glutamic acid each accounted for about 15% of the NPN. Gamma-amino butyric acid and ethanolamine were also observed in the NPN fraction. Significant shifts in total amino acid distribution were seen to occur during the fourth week of seed development. The amino acid profile of cottonseed after the fifth week of development closely approximated that of mature seed.

Key Words: Gossypium hirsutum L. • Oilseed • Protein quality • Seed development • Free amino acids

² Plant physiologists, ARS-USDA, Stoneville, MS 38776. Mississippi Agric. Forestry Exp. Stn. cooperating.

Received for publication April 24, 1976.

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