Correlations between Cotton Characteristics in Greek Multi-environments

Abstract

Correlations of data provided by AFIS and HVI were performed under a multi-location evaluation of cotton fiber characteristics in the Greek environment. Four main cotton-production Greek regions were selected and the five most cultivated commercial upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars were used for evaluation of fiber length and short fiber characteristics by AFIS and HVI instruments. Each cultivar was sown in 16 fields and 80 fields in total were used for all cultivars. Both HVI and AFIS gave reliable data concerning fiber length and short fiber estimations. High positive and statistically significant correlations between the two instruments were found indicating the similarity of final measurements. Fiber length estimations can be performed with higher accuracy than short fiber estimations, because CV values were lower for both instruments. HVI and AFIS showed different advantages in estimating fiber length and short fiber characteristics. Measurements of AFIS on fiber length had a smaller range between maximum and minimum values, but HVI showed lower CV% which is more useful for breeders, since it may indicate gene fixation that ensures easier breeding procedure. For short fibers, AFIS also showed a smaller range between maximum and minimum values and HVI showed lower CV%. Graphical comparisons between HVI and AFIS measurements for fiber length and short fibers showed that HVI had a more pattern with lower fluctuations than AFIS.