Seed Coat Fragments Research Articles

Seed Hull Fracture Resistance of Upland and Pima Cotton Cultivars

Seed durability is a current issue of cotton ginners, who have noted smaller and weaker seed, lower seed grades, and increased seed coat fragments within ginned cotton fiber. To better understand the differences in the seed hull properties of Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and Pima (G. barbadense L) seed, compression testing was conducted to determine the seed hull fracture resistance of both species. Plants were grown in Five Points, CA, U.S., for two years. After roller ginning, seed were conditioned to standard environmental conditions and were compressed until rupture on a material strength tester. Seed of the Pima cultivars generally required greater maximum compressive force and energy to rupture than did the seed of the Upland cultivars. However, when the seed were compressed in a vertical orientation, a few individual Upland cultivars did have compression properties within the range of values observed for the Pima cultivars. Hence, it is possible to find Upland seed with compression properties comparable to or slightly greater than those of some Pima seed. Differences in the data for the two years showed that growing environment affects seed hull strength properties. The results should help clarify some conflicting literature regarding the relative strength attributes of Gossypium species seed.

Cotton Seed Size – What is the “Fuzz” all About?

Breeding efforts to improve lint yields in cotton may have shifted photosynthate partitioning to fibers during seed development resulting in a reduction in seed size in modern cotton cultivars. While the textile industry is the main consumer of cotton, changes in seed quality including size and composition could negatively impact other sectors of the agriculture industry that utilize cotton raw materials other than fiber. There is evidence of smaller cotton seeds impacting germination and seedling vigor as well as a reduction in oil content as seed size decreases. Moreover, downstream sectors of the cotton industry such as gins, crushers, and feedlots have been trying to draw attention to the consequences of having extremely small seeds to their operations, such as reduced ginning efficiency, seedcoat fragments, challenges in the delinting and decortication process, changes in meal nutrition, etc. This review focuses on the impacts of pursuing ever-increasing lint percent in modern cotton cultivars at the expense of seed size and attempts to highlight some of the less-known concerns of downstream cotton industry sectors.

Combination of electronically driven micromanipulation with laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry - The unique tool for analysis of seed coat layers and revealing the mystery of seed dormancy.

Electronically driven micromanipulation (EDM) with microscopic control was used as a novel tool for sample preparation prior to direct (matrix assisted) laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric ((MA)LDI-MS) analysis of mature pea seed coat composition in defined layers. Microscissors were used for seed coat fragment shape adjustment, microtweezers for sample holding and "microjackhammer" Milling Pro for precise mechanical removing of cell layers in defined depths (2, 5 or 10μm). These procedures circumvent the application of embedding media or enzymatic digestion of seed coat that would complicate mass spectra interpretation (presence of matrix signals, analyte signals enhancement or attenuation) and represent alternative for 3D metabolites profiling. In addition, microinjector was used to apply a solution on intact or micropeeled seed coat surface in nano-volumes, i.e. MALDI matrix and/or lithium salt, that provide improvement of signal of sugars. Utilization of EDM enabled optimization of matrix composition on a single small fragment of seed coat overcoming thus problems with biological (seed to seed) variability. LDI-MS data were studied by multivariate statistical analysis and significant metabolites in particular layers of seed coats were identified. Normalized intensities of signals (NS) of long-chain hydroxylated fatty acids (HLFA) on intact dormant pea genotype (JI64) seed coats were significantly higher than in their counterparts treated by micropeeling confirming HLFA accumulation in outermost layers (cutin). Fatty acids distribution differences between dormant and non-dormant genotypes were explored in detail. On the other hand, NS of sugar chains and particular polyphenols were significantly higher in micropeeled seed coats of studied dormant and non-dormant genotypes than in intact seed coats. Furthermore, combination of EDM with mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) allowed vertical profiling of metabolites in hilum (a place of former attachment of seed to maternal plant) and comparison of its composition with surrounding tissues. The obtained results contribute to the understanding of relations between seed coat chemical composition and physical seed dormancy.

Cotton Genotype Differences in Seed Coat Fragments Related to Seed Fragility and Fiber-Seed Attachment Force

HighlightsRelationships between seed coat fragments and other seed and fiber properties were examined among cotton genotypes.Genotypes in the study had a broad range of properties that were significantly different among genotypes.Seed coat fragment levels were significantly correlated with cottonseed fragility, fiber-seed attachment force, and ginning energy.Longer, stronger cottons tended to have higher seed coat fragment levels.Abstract. Seed coat fragments (SCF) are difficult to remove from ginned lint. Cotton genotypes vary in SCF levels, but details are lacking regarding the cause of SCF. This study examined ten genotypes with highly variable levels of SCF to find relationships between SCF and cottonseed rupture force, fiber-seed attachment force, and net gin stand energy. Results showed that the attachment force of the fiber to the seed increased significantly with SCF levels, and net gin stand energy consumption increased with SCF levels, suggesting fibers more strongly attached to seed were prone to SCF formation. Cottonseed rupture force was measured, but only one genotype with very low seed rupture force had increased SCF; otherwise, SCF increased with cottonseed rupture force. Unexpectedly, fiber length, strength, and micronaire were significantly correlated with SCF levels, indicating that the longer, stronger, cottons with lower micronaire in the premium range tended to have higher SCF levels. These results show that multiple, otherwise desirable factors may contribute to cotton containing high SCF levels. Keywords: Seed coat fragments, Cottonseed fragility, Cotton attachment force, Gin stand energy, Fiber quality.

Impact of Environmental Conditions and Variety on Seed Coat Fragment Issues in Georgia in 2020

In 2020, there were an abnormal number of seed coat fragment (SCF) reports from cotton produced in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida resulting in price deductions of more than $23 million in the region and $18 million in Georgia alone based on loan value. To understand what led to the historic number of SCF calls, variety trial samples from Georgia were evaluated for SCF issues. Trials were conducted across 24 locations in Georgia and included 12 varieties. A total of 286 seedcotton samples were ginned at the UGA Microgin in Tifton, GA, and two fiber samples were collected, one for High Volume Instrument and one for Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) analysis, and a seed sample was collected for free fatty acid (FFA) analysis. None of the samples sent to the Memphis, TN classing office received an extraneous matter call; however, there were differences in AFIS seed coat nep (SCN) counts, trash, and FFA when evaluated by site and variety. Variety was not as impactful as location, indicating that environmental differences between sites were responsible for the differences. As more rainfall occurred from first open boll to harvest, SCN count increased. Additionally, as average daily solar radiation increased, SCN count decreased. Therefore, it was determined that significant and prolonged weathering is what likely led to the outbreak of SCF issues in the Southeast. Future research should continue to evaluate environmental impacts on the occurrence of extraneous matter as well as an objective method to determine extraneous matter occurrences in cotton lint.

Effects of drought on agronomic and fiber quality in an introgressed backcross inbred line population of Upland cotton under field conditions

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most important fiber crop and an important oilseed crop in the world. Developing drought tolerant cultivars is important to sustainable cotton production in arid and semi-arid regions. However, there is a lack of information on genetic variation for drought tolerance in breeding populations. In this study, a backcross inbred line (BIL) Upland population with germplasm introgression from a more drought-tolerant American Pima cotton (G. barbadense) parent was evaluated in multiple field environments under well-watered (WW) and water-limited (WL) conditions at the flowering stage. Drought at the flowering stage reduced seedcotton yield (SCY), lint yield (LY), boll weight (BW), fiber length (FL), and fiber strength (STR) but increased lint percentage (LP), micronaire (MIC), neps per size, nep per gram, seedcoat nep size, and seed coat fragment count by gram. Significant genetic differences in the BIL population were detected for most agronomic and fiber quality traits and drought susceptibility index (DSI) for these traits. DSI of SCY and LY ranged from 0.01 to 1.5 and 0.1–1.45, respectively, reflecting the tolerance level of the BILs under WL conditions. The broad-sense heritability estimates were moderate for most agronomic traits and moderate to high for most fiber quality traits. Results indicated that highly positive correlation was detected for agronomic and fiber quality traits between WW and WL conditions, with the highest correlations for SCY, LY, UHM, SCY, and MIC. Promising BILs with drought tolerance were identified. This study has provided a line of evidence that field drought tolerance was transferred from the more drought tolerant Pima line to Upland cotton.

A bioplastic-based seed coating improves seedling growth and reduces production of coated seed dust

ABSTRACTAlthough recently introduced, film-coating of agronomic seeds is now widely accepted in modern agriculture as an effective technology for protecting germinating seeds and seedlings. These experiments explored the possibility of using a bioplastic-based formulation to film-coat corn (maize; Zea mays L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) seeds, alone and in combination with synthetic pesticides and plant growth-promoting bacteria. The thin bioplastic coat did not affect percent germination or seedling growth. However, incorporating spores of the plant growth-promoting bacterium Bacillus subtilis QST 713 into the bioplastic matrix resulted in a greater elongation of corn and canola seedlings than that of seedlings from untreated seeds. Specifically, stems and roots of seedlings that germinated from corn seeds coated with bioplastic containing spores were 18.0% and 21.4% longer, respectively, than stems and roots from uncoated control seeds. In canola seeds, these values were 19.9% and 20.9% higher for stem and roots, respectively. Incorporating a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, and a fungicide, pyraclostrobin, into bioplastic coatings, along with B. subtilis spores, provided results comparable to spores and bioplastic alone. Coated seeds were also evaluated for their potential to generate dust after abrasion testing, using a novel image-based method made possible because seed coatings are typically artificially colored. Abraded seed coat fragments are consequently easily detectable with conventional optical instruments. Corn and canola seeds coated with bioplastic released up to 86.1% and 97.6% less dust during abrasive handling than seeds coated with a commercial seed coating matrix measured by the optical approach described here.

COTTON GINNERS HANDBOOK: Effects of Gin Machinery on Cotton Quality

Ginning practices affect both economic returns to cotton producers and quality of fiber produced for textile mills and, ultimately, consumers. Because of the shift from a primarily domestic to an export market for U.S. cotton and the loss of textile market share to synthetic fibers, production of high-quality cotton is critical to maintaining the competitiveness of the U.S. cotton industry. The objectives of this review are to summarize the effects of ginning on cotton quality, focusing on recent research, and provide best practices for gin managers to maximize bale value and fiber quality. Higher fiber moisture content at the gin stand, with an optimum of 6 to 7%, better preserves fiber length and strength, but this moisture level reduces both seed cotton and lint cleaning efficiency; therefore, a fiber moisture content of 5 to 6% might be needed for efficient cleaning. Seed cotton cleaners are effective at removing larger foreign matter particles and cause minimal fiber damage. Lint cleaners are efficient cleaners and necessary for removing seed-coat fragments and other small particles created in the gin stand. However, lint cleaners break some fibers, create neps, and remove some good quality fiber. To maximize fiber quality, gins should encourage producers to grow high-quality cultivars and follow recommended harvesting practices. Modules need to be stored and handled properly. Gins should use the minimum amount of drying and lint cleaning that maximizes bale value. Avoiding contamination is vitally important to uphold the U.S. cotton industry’s reputation as a supplier of high-quality cotton.

Cotton contamination

ABSTRACTThis review focusses on physical forms of contaminant including the presence, prevention and/or removal of foreign bodies, stickiness and seed-coat fragments rather than the type and quantity of chemical residues that might be present in cotton. Contamination in cotton, even if it is a single foreign fibre, can lead to the downgrading of yarn, fabric or garments, or even to the total rejection of an entire batch and can cause irreparable harm to the relationship between growers, ginners, merchants and textile and clothing mills. Contamination thus continues to be a very important cotton fibre quality parameter in the production pipeline, with countries and cotton that are perceived to be contaminated heavily discounted. At the same time, spinners are implementing various methods to detect and eliminate contamination. Given the adverse effect on processing and product quality arising from contamination, it was considered important to compile a review of published work and knowledge relating to the incidence, detection, measurement, consequences and reduction of contamination.

Fundamental research on spiking, recovery and understanding seed coat nep counts in AFIS analysis of pre-opened cotton

Understanding seed coat fragment (SCF) spiking results in advanced fiber information systems (AFIS) analysis of seed coat neps (SCN) in ginned cottons is confounded by the opening of entangled fibers in the instrument’s fiber individualizer. This may influence seed coat tissue fragmentation and recovery since a high degree of machine-fiber interaction is required to individualize entities for sensing. In this paper, slivers were pre-opened in the AFIS followed by manual cleaning, spiking, and AFIS analysis. A protocol was developed to spike the pre-opened slivers. The percent recovery of the spiked entity was dependent on the species and cultivar of the cotton used to prepare the slivers. The lowest recovery was with Pima fibers. Also, the recovery improved with the increase in length of the fibers biologically attached to the SCF surface. Delinted seed coat fragments produced the lowest recovery. Seed coat fragments carefully removed from ginned lint and added to the processed slivers gave the highest recovery. Averaged SCN recoveries from two AFIS units ranged from 26 to 100% (theoretical). These results helped to explain why the AFIS analysis of SCN counts in processed cotton is lower than by the microscopic analysis.

Evaluating Newly Designed Lint Cleaner Grid Bars to Remove Seed Coat Fragments

An experiment was conducted to remove seed coat fragments (SCF) with a saw-type lint cleaner using newly designed grid bars. The test consisted of one control and five experimental grid bar designs, and a treatment that contained no lint cleaning (No LC). Two types of cotton were used, a common upland cultivar and a cultivar known to have a fragile seed coat that breaks easily and contaminates lint with SCF. Results showed that fiber from the Acala cultivar was longer, more uniform, contained less short fiber, had fewer neps, and fewer seed coat neps (SCN) than the fragile cultivar. There were differences in fiber properties among lint cleaning treatments, but those differences were between the treatment that contained No LC and the grid bar treatments collectively. Visible foreign matter in ginned lint was not different among lint cleaning treatments. Both AFIS seed coat nep count and a manual count of SCF, which were used as indicators for SCF, were not different among lint cleaning treatments. As expected, fiber in the lint cleaner waste was shorter, and contained more short fiber and more neps than fiber in the bale, but SCN count in the lint cleaner waste also was not different among grid bar designs. High-speed videography showed that SCF were not removed by colliding with the grid bars, but were actually drawn back into the lint stream by attached fiber. Other means to separate SCF from ginned fiber are being investigated.

Image-Based Analysis of Seed Coat Fragments in Cotton Fabrics

Seed coat fragments (SCFs) in cotton fabrics are defects that negatively impact the value and quality of cotton if they are visible. The ability to accurately and rapidly count SCFs is important to efficient quality control and for research into improved cotton wet processing. Innovative scouring/bleaching using N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride (TBBC) under neutral conditions produces satisfactory whiteness, but inferior performance in SCF removal. In this study, an image-based program was developed to quantitatively analyze SCFs based on their appearance on bleached cotton fabrics. With optimized thresholds, the program was capable of counting SCFs in fabric images semi-automatically, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 94.7% and an accuracy of 94.1%. Compared to the conventional method, image-based counting gave high accuracy and sensitivity.

An Improved Device to MeasureCottonseed Strength

<abstract><title><italic>Abstract. </italic></title> During processing, seeds of cotton cultivars with fragile seeds often break and produce seed coat fragments that can cause processing problems at textile mills. A previously developed cottonseed shear tester was modified with enhancements to the drive system to provide a constant pulling speed to the shearing mechanism which measured cottonseed strength. Evaluation of the modified tester showed that placing a cottonseed in the shear mechanism with the chalazal end of the cottonseed flush with the face of the mechanism produced a truer double shear than an alternative position. This flush position also resulted in less variable cottonseed shear force measurements. The shear device provides a useful tool for cotton breeders to rapidly quantify the seed strength of prospective cotton cultivars.

Post-Dispersal Seed Predation Rates in a Puerto Rican Pasture

The dispersal and survival of seeds are two of the main factors limiting forest regeneration in tropical pastures of anthropogenic origin. Here we report on the quantity, diversity, and predation rates of seeds dispersed by birds in a pasture in northern Puerto Rico. From May through August of 2009, we sampled the bird-generated seed rain under isolated trees and shrubs in the pasture using seed traps. The pasture was adjacent to a fragment of secondary forest that served as the source of seeds. The seed traps collected 3,844 seeds (including pieces) belonging to 28 plant species, with five species accounting for 78.6 percent of the sample. Predation of seeds —calculated as the ratio of seed fragments to intact seeds- was detected in eleven plant species, with some species suffering significantly higher predation rates than others. For example, seeds of Cissampelos pereira and Casearia Sylvestris experienced low predation (<0.3), while the majority of seeds from Cordia polycephala and Erythroxylon brevipes where predated (>0.6). Predation rates where in an inverse relationship with the density of seed deposition and with seed size across species. The physical evidence on the seed traps (i.e., seed coat fragments, fecal samples) points to rodents as the main agents of seed predation. We conclude that post-dispersal seed predation by rodents can serve as an important ecological filter that could shape the early community dynamics of forest recovery in abandoned Puerto Rican pastures.

Automatic detection of seed coat fragments in cotton fabrics

Seed coat fragments (SCFs) reduce the marketability of cotton fiber, yarns and fabrics. It is particularly important to measure SCF content in the fabric because they cause severe dyeing and appearance defects. SCF content is greatly affected by cotton varieties, environmental conditions during crop development, and mechanical processing, but studying their effects in fabrics can be very tedious and time consuming. In this paper, we present an image analysis system for accurate and fast measurement of SCFs in greige fabrics, and the conditions of using the system for reliable and repeatable data. In the study, four different US cotton varieties were selected, and processed with regular manufacturing facilities. The relationship between sample size and precision of the image analysis system was determined through statistical analysis. It was found that the minimum sample size for each variety should consist of five camera images with a minimum of four fabric samples per variety with three replications, which gives a least significant difference (LSD) of 64.54 for dark speck count. Dark speck counts for the four fabrics tested ranged from 267.7 to 659.9. Increasing sample size will lower the LSD.

Measurements of seed coat fragments in cotton fibers and fabrics

Seed coat fragments (SCFs) are the parts of a seed coat that have been broken from the surface of either mature or immature seeds during mechanical processing. SCFs can cause spinning problems and fabric defects, which ultimately cause financial losses to the cotton industry. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate an image-analysis tool that detects SCFs on fabrics and compares various methods of detection of SCFs in fiber and fabric. The first part of this paper looks at 12 international cottons (a broad range of cottons from distinctly different regions). The version called AFISPro is used in these studies. The SCFs in these fibers were measured by hand sorting, the Shirley Analyzer and the Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS). The SCFs in the fabrics (made from the same cottons) were measured by hand counting and an automated image-analysis system (Autorate). The Autorate SCF fabric data had a high correlation with the hand-counting SCF fabric data. The same 12 international cotton samples and an additional 12 international cottons were used for the AFISPro studies, since AFISPro is much faster than hand sorting. Comparison of the fiber and fabric data showed a promising relationship between the AFIS SCF measurement and the SCF fabric data.

Relationship of Seed Properties to Seed Coat Fragments for Cotton Cultivars Grown in the Mid-South

Large quantities of seed coat fragments (SCF) in cotton bales cause processing problems for textile plants. Previous research has shown that cotton cultivars differ considerably for the number and weight of SCF in lint. With the recent trend toward cultivars with smaller seed, there has been some concern that increased SCF levels could result from smaller seeds that are more easily damaged or more likely to pass through ginning ribs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze cultivar differences for SCF in lint and determine the relationship with other cultivar traits such as seed index, seed diameter, distribution of seed diameter, and seed linter content. A total of 63 cotton cultivars were planted in Stoneville, Mississippi, in a randomized complete block design in 2004 as part of the Mississippi State Regional Cotton Variety Trial. The cotton was machine harvested and ginned with a typical sequence of gin machinery. Seed coat fragment content ranged from 9.4 to 29.1 SCF g-1 lint among cultivars. Seed index ranged from 7.1 to 10.7 g per 100 seeds, and mean seed diameter ranged from 4.5 to 5.2 mm. Cultivars differed significantly for seed diameter distribution. A polynomial relationship was found between SCF content and seed index, with SCF initially increasing with seed index and leveling off or decreasing with larger seed index. A similar relationship was found between SCF content and seed diameter. No consistent relationship was found between SCF content and seed diameter distribution parameters. The results of this study showed no indication that cultivars with smaller seed, either overall or in the tails of the seed diameter distribution, were prone to higher SCF content.

Analysis of the chemical composition of cotton seed coat by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy

To improve knowledge on the biodegradation of cotton seed coat fragments in bioscouring, in this study Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy was performed to analyze the composition of cotton seed coat. Microscope observation showed that cotton seed coat has a five-layer structure: epidermal layer, outer pigment layer, colorless layer, palisade layer, and inner pigment layer. Analysis of the FT-IR spectra from each layer shows that cutin, wax, cellulose, and pectin are the main components of the epidermal layer, while pectin and hemicellulose are the main constituents of the palisade layer, as well as aromatic and polyphenol, which are commonly considered as lignins. The main component of the outer and inner pigment layers is lignin. The results suggest that cellulase, pectinase, xylanase, and lignin oxidase are suitable for degradation of cotton seed coat. In addition, cutinase might be very promising in improving the enzymatic degradation of cotton seed coat.

The Use of Marah Macrocarpus by the Prehistoric Indians of Coastal Southern California

A review of the available data from macrobotanical analyses conducted on prehistoric archaeological sites found in coastal southern California indicates the ubiquitous nature of carbonized Marah macrocarpus (Greene) Greene (wild cucumber) seed coat fragments. Their recovery from cultural deposits in carbonized form indicates prehistoric use; however, all parts of the plant are toxic, and plants that typically function in medicinal or ritualistic roles are rarely recovered as part of the macrobotanical assemblage. In an attempt to shed some light on the possible prehistoric uses of wild cucumber by the native peoples of coastal southern California, this paper examines the current distribution of Marah, the archaeological occurrence of M. macrocarpus, as well as pertinent biochemical and morphological characteristics of the plant, particularly the seed. Finally, ethnobotanical accounts of the use of Marah by the native peoples of the Pacific west are discussed in light of current research on the physical properties and biological activities of various compounds found in Marah. This information is offered as a guide for future archaeological investigations of the possible uses of the taxon by the prehistoric Indians of coastal southern California and elsewhere.

Fractionation of Foreign Matter in Ginned Lint Before and After Lint Cleaning

One goal of lint cleaning at a cotton gin is to reduce the non-lint material to an acceptable level with minimal fiber damage. In an effort to improve lint cleaner performance, an initial study was conducted on lint collected before and after lint cleaning at nine commercial gins across the cotton belt to characterize non-lint content. Samples from this study were first processed with an MDTA-3 (Micro Dust and Trash Analyzer 3, SDL Atlas, Stockport, U.K.) to determine trash, fiber fragment, and dust content. The trash portion was retained for additional manual fractionation to determine the percent of material classified as seed coat fragments (SCF), motes, funiculi, sticks, leaf, bark, lint, and other material. Leaf, SCF, and sticks were the largest fractions, accounting for 81% of the total trash sample. Overall, total trash decreased by 57% due to lint cleaning, and trash fractions remained consistent in samples before and after lint cleaning. Lint cleaning efficiency in terms of SCF was less than the overall cleaning efficiency, and lint cleaning efficiency for bark, mote, and other (all minor components) was higher than the overall cleaning efficiency. The lint cleaning efficiency for SCF was increased significantly when higher SCF levels were found before the lint cleaner, but this trend was not found for other fractions. Results of this experiment will help direct future studies to improve lint cleaning.