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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bourland, F. M. Articles by Ibrahim, A. A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bourland, F. M. Articles by Ibrahim, A. A. L. Agricola Articles by Bourland, F. M. Articles by Ibrahim, A. A. L.

Effects of Accelerated Aging Treatments on Six Cotton Cultivars¹

The objectives of this study were to determine if cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars having different genetic backgrounds would respond to accelerated aging as predicted by Bird and Reyes' seed quality curve and to determine the resistance to seed deterioration of the cultivars. The seed quality curve predicts seed germination to increase with low exposure to aging, reach a peak then decrease rapidly with addition exposure. Mold growth on seed is expected to increase linearly with exposure to aging.

Acid-delinted seed of each cultivar having minimum preharvest deterioration were exposed to accelerated aging for varying periods of time then evaluated in laboratory tests at 13.3 and 18.3 C and in field tests. Germination percentages in all tests tended to respond to accelerated aging as predicted with variation accentuated in the 13.3 C test. When removed from the aging chamber, molds growing on the seed in proportion to the length of the aging period were observed. When the 13.3 C test was initiated the same day seed were removed from the chamber, mold growth increased linearly with length of aging period but when initiation was delayed, mold growth on seed did not respond to aging as expected. A strain (TXORMAR-S-2) selected for resistance to seed deterioration consistently was the least sensitive to the effects of accelerated aging; ‘Deltapine 61,’ ‘CAMD-E,’ and ‘Stoneville 213’ were intermediate; and ‘Delcot 277J’ and ‘DES 56’ were the most sensitive.

Variation for resistance to seed deterioration exists among cotton cultivars. Absence of mold growth on seed can be an indicator of high seed quality. However, precautions should be taken to validate relationships involving mold growth before it is used as a selection criterion in a breeding program.

Key Words: Gossypium hirsutumL • Mold growth • Germination • Seed quality • Seed deterioration

² Assistant agronomist and former graduate student, respectively.

Received for publication July 27, 1981.