Within‐Boll Yield Components and Fiber Traits of Upland Cotton

Abstract

ABSTRACTExtra‐long staple (ELS) pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) in the United States is identified by fibers with an upper half mean length (UHML) of at least 34.9 mm. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) traditionally has been referred to as short or medium staple cotton and in 2008 comprised approximately 95% of U.S. production, with pima comprising about 5%. Upland cotton is grown on the majority of acreage devoted to cotton because of its yield potential relative to pima, and its fiber has been adequate for most end uses. However, cotton breeders have long sought to develop upland cotton with the elite fiber quality of pima. Nine upland cotton germplasm lines exhibiting the ELS trait have been developed and released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. These lines are characterized by improved UHML and fiber bundle strength, average yield, and low lint percent. Improving lint yield potential and lint percent while maintaining the ELS trait in this upland cotton germplasm pool will depend on an understanding of the impact of the ELS trait on yield components. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the upland ELS trait on within‐boll yield components when compared with two cultivars of upland cotton and one pima cotton cultivar.