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

This Article Figures Only Full Text 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 Google Scholar Articles by Verhalen, L. M. Articles by Greenhagen, B. E. PubMed Articles by Verhalen, L. M. Articles by Greenhagen, B. E. Agricola Articles by Verhalen, L. M. Articles by Greenhagen, B. E. Related Collections Crop Growth and Development Crop Physiology & Metabolism Cotton

CROP ECOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & QUALITY

Cotyledons in Upland Cotton: How Important Are They?

Dep. of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State Univ., 368 Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078–6028

^* Corresponding author (melanie.bayles{at}okstate.edu).

Seedlings of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) are vulnerable to the partial or complete loss of their cotyledons due to an array of biotic and abiotic causes. These experiments were conducted in the field over a 4-yr period to determine the effects of such losses in the early vegetative cotyledon growth stage on lint yield, selected lint yield components, and fiber traits. Loss of half a cotyledon apparently stimulated the cotton plant to overcompensate for lint yield by 4 to 6%. Overcompensation was not detected for the lint yield components or fiber traits. The plant compensated for the loss of up to one cotyledon in all traits except fiber strength in one year. Loss of one and one-half cotyledons reduced lint yield (11–33%), picked lint percentage (up to 2.1%), pulled lint percentage (0.4%), micronaire (up to 0.2 units), and fiber elongation (up to 0.3%). Loss of both cotyledons reduced lint yield (81–100%), picked lint percentage (up to 4.6%), pulled lint percentage (4.7%), boll size (0.85 g boll^–1), micronaire (up to 1.6 units), and fiber elongation (up to 1.4%). Fiber length and length uniformity were not affected at any level of cotyledon removal. Fiber strength exhibited significant differences among treatments in one experiment, but no trend. The elimination of both cotyledons when the first true leaf was about the size of a dime was considerably less harmful to the plant than when done earlier in the season.

Abbreviations: DAE, days after emergence • DAP, days after planting • DAT, days after treatment • HVI, High Volume Instrument • VC, vegetative cotyledon