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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #270055
Title: Genetics of ginning efficiency and its genotypic and phenotypic correlations with agronomic and fiber traits in upland cotton

Author
item Bechere, Efrem
item Boykin Jr, James
item Zeng, Linghe

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2013
Publication Date: 3/1/2014
Citation: Bechere, E., Boykin Jr, J.C., Zeng, L. 2014. Genetics of ginning efficiency and its genotypic and phenotypic correlations with agronomic and fiber traits in upland cotton. Crop Science. 54:507-513.

Interpretive Summary: Reducing the cost of ginning by using cotton germplasm that gin with less energy and gin faster is critical for US cotton producers and ginners to stay competitive internationally. To develop such cotton germplasm, researchers need to understand how agronomic and quality traits important in cotton are related to ginning rate and ginning energy requirement. Fuzz percent and net ginning energy were positively and significantly associated. However, negative and significant genotypic association was observed between fuzz % and ginning rate. Genotypes with lower fuzz % require less net ginning energy and gin faster than genotypes with higher fuzz %. Fuzz % also had higher broad sense heritability and genetic advance from selection when compared to net ginning energy requirement and ginning rate. Additionally fuzz percent is easier, faster, and cheaper to measure than ginning energy requirement and ginning rate, and can therefore be used to select for genotypes that gin more efficiently. Cotton researchers can use this information to facilitate their work on ginning efficiency in the future.

Technical Abstract: Information regarding genetic variability and correlations of desirable traits provide a reliable basis for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) improvement. The objective of this research was to study the genetics of ginning efficiency and estimate genotypic correlations of ginning energy requirements and ginning rate, with some agronomic and quality traits in two upland cotton crosses. F2 plants from two segregating families were used to produce F3 plants from which sixty-four individual plants from each of the two populations were randomly harvested in 2009 to produce progeny rows which were planted in two replications at two environments at Stoneville, MS during 2010 and 2012. Highest broad sense heritability was observed for fuzz % followed by net ginning energy, gross ginning energy and ginning rate. Significant positive genotypic correlations were observed between fuzz % and net ginning energy. Fuzz %, however had negative and significant genotypic correlation with ginning rate. Ginning rate was negatively and significantly correlated with net ginning energy and gross ginning energy. Net ginning energy had significant and positive genotypic relationships with gross ginning energy. Results also indicated high genetic advance from selection for fuzz %. These results coupled with the fact that fuzz % is easier, faster and much less expensive to measure makes it a good candidate for selecting for ginning efficiency.