Search

At high humidities, the moisture content of mature, normal cotton seed readily attains levels which cause rapid degeneration of embryos. In hard seeded types, an impermeable coat restricts water movement into embryos during periods of high atmospheric humidity thus permitting embryos to be maintained at earlier established low moisture contents that are favorable for preservation of seed quality.

The selection for glandless‐leaf plants in segregating generations of an Acala G × Hopi M cross lowered the gossypol content of inbred seed. Homozygous glandlessleaf selections had 0.10 to 0.50% gossypol, an improved oil color, and an improved protein feeding value. The use of the glandless‐leaf index reduces the need for costly gossypol analyses permitting the cotion breeder to emphasize selection for agronomic fitness.