Variability in Cotton Seed Quality: Its Measurements and Use.

Abstract

There are no published studies on the genetic variation and covariation of seed quality traits of cotton cultivars. Taking this in mind this study was initiated to facilitate the utilization of commercial l:ultiv<lrs in breeding for high cotton planting seed quality in the Egyptian cotton germ plasm by, (I) describing the genetic variation available f(Jr planting seed quality traits among commercial cotton cultivar whe1i evaluated over space and time,(2) determining the phenotypic and genotypic associations among traits that would facilitate or hinder selection for economically important seed quality combinations. and (3)classifying and describing ten commercials cotton cultivars fix their seed quality traits and identifying the ones that show the greatest potential as source material for breeding high planting seed quality cultivars in the Egyptian cotton germplasm. Ten cotton entries, including nine cultivars and one experimental

line, were used as plant materials for this study. Seeds used in this study were obtained from the nati011al cotton variety testing program for regional evaluation of cotton cultivars, viz: The miniature experiments during 1999 and 2000. Field trails were conducted during the two successive years ( 1999-2000), in Egypt, at ten locations located in the main production area of Egyptian cotton belt in the first season. However in the second season only the five locations were sampled for experimentation