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

This Article 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 Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lee, J. A. Agricola Articles by Lee, J. A.

Effects of Two Pilosity Alleles on Agronomic and Fiber Traits in Upland Cotton¹

The pilosity alleles H₂ and Pilose impart dense pubescence to various plant parts of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The effects of the two alleles on selected agronomic and fiber traits were studied in 1982 in two environments on the background of ‘Empire’, a cultivar which displays a normal density of pubescence. Four entries were compared, i.e., i) homozygous Pilose; ii) normally pubescent siblings of Pilose, designated as C-l; iii) homozygous H₂; and iv) normally pubescent siblings H₂, designated as C-2. The density of pubescence on leaves of Pilose and H₂ did not differ, and both were about 2.5 times more pubescenthan the controls. Pilose did differ from the other three entries in having pubescent bolls. Boll weight was virtually the same for all entries, as was lint percentage. Fiber length varied among entries. C-I had 21% greater 2.5% span length than Pilose (28.4 vs. 23.4 mm). C-2 displayed 4% greater 2.5% span length than H₂ (27.8 vs. 26.7 ram), a difference not significant at the 0.5 probability level. The 50% span length of the entries correlated closely with 2.5% span length (r = 0.89**), and Pilose differed significantly from the other entries in fiber length uniformity index. Micronaire was significantly greater for Pilose than for the other three entires (5.2 vs. 4.4 to 4.5), and the coarser fiber of Pilose was accompanied by a small loss in fiber tensile strength. There were no significant differences in fiber elongation. The possible uses for H₂ in breeding for insect resistance were discussed.

Key Words: Gossypium hirsutum L. • Gossypium tomentosum Nutt. ex Seem. • Plant pubescence • Plant characteristics

² Geneticist, USDA-ARS, and professor of Crop Science, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27650.

Received for publication February 17, 1983.