Abstract
BackgroundCotton breeding programs mainly focus on improving cotton fibers, but less attention has been paid by breeders to cottonseed oil improvement. Breeding cottonseed for oil content has mainly depended on phenotypic information used to select varieties with high seed oil content. The purpose of this study was to evaluate some cotton genotypes regarding their oil content and other characters related to fiber yield, in order to select genotypes with high oil content and acceptable levels of the other characters. Seventeen different genotypes of cotton were used in this study. A two-year experiment was carried out at Sids Agricultural Research Station, Beni Suef, Egypt, during 2017 and 2018, using a randomized complete block design with six replications. Seed cotton yield, lint cotton yield, boll weight, seed index, embryo index, oil % and embryo oil index characters were recorded.ResultsThe analysis of variance results showed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the studied traits except boll weight in season 2017. The overall cotton embryo oil % ranged from 33.40 to 40.28 among the genotypes, while the overall cotton embryo oil index ranged from 1.79 to 2.47. Maximum cotton embryo oil % was noted by the genotypes 15 [{(G83 × G80) × G89} × Australian] and 8 [(G 91 × G90) × (G 85 × G 83)], while maximum cotton embryo oil index was noted by the genotype 13 [(G 91 × G 90) × G80]. The results showed positive correlations between seed cotton yield and lint cotton yield, seed index and embryo index, seed index and embryo index oil %, embryo index and embryo index oil %, and oil % and embryo index oil %.ConclusionsIt could be concluded that using seed or embryo oil percentages as criteria for differentiating genotypes according to their oil content is misleading and the best efficient measure is using the seed or embryo oil indices because they depend on weight basis. Also, Genotypes 13, 15 and 8 were the best genotypes regarding oil % and they could be used in breeding programs for cotton oil improvement.
Highlights
Cotton breeding programs mainly focus on improving cotton fibers, but less attention has been paid by breeders to cottonseed oil improvement
Maximum cotton embryo oil % was noted by the genotypes 15 for season 2017 and by genotype 8 for season 2018
Using seed or embryo oil percentages as criteria for differentiating among genotypes in their content of oil is misleading and the best efficient measure is using the seed or embryo oil indices because they depend on weight basis
Summary
Cotton breeding programs mainly focus on improving cotton fibers, but less attention has been paid by breeders to cottonseed oil improvement. Breeding cottonseed for oil content has mainly depended on pheno‐ typic information used to select varieties with high seed oil content. Cottonseed oil has several applications in the food, Cotton breeders are making great efforts to change the traditional breeding programs, which only focus on Eldessouky et al Bull Natl Res Cent (2021) 45:43 improving fiber characters, by switching for programs including improvement in fiber and cottonseed; subsequently, they will maximize the value of the cotton crop. In the meantime, this will maximize return on investments and encourage the farmers to grow cotton crop. The oil accumulation in cotton embryo has been relatively neglected as the main research priority has been devoted to cottonseed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
