Monday, November 5, 2007
67-2

Cotton Fiber Perimeter as a Quality Assessment Tool.

Gayle Davidonis1, Olga A. Richard1, and Donald J. Boquet2. (1) USDA-ARS, Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70179-0687, (2) Northeast Research & Ext. Ctr., 212 Macon Ridge Road, Winnsboro, LA 71295

Cotton fiber length and micronaire drive the global market and it is imperative that fiber quality be addressed at both the breeder and producer levels. High micronaire values are undesirable and the identification of cultivars with this problem is critical for producers in growing regions prone to high micronaire. Interactions among fiber properties can complicate cultivar evaluation. Variety trials were conducted at the LSU research facility in Winnsboro, LA from 2002 to 2006. Cultivars were selected and fiber properties were analyzed using HVI and AFIS PRO instrumentation. Cultivars were compared by fiber length and Maturity Ratio to determine perimeter ranking. Large and medium perimeter cultivars consistently had micronaire values above 4.9. If long fiber, small perimeter cultivars maintain their length potertial over a wide range of environments then new cultivars with similar fiber properties should have acceptable micronaire values. Medium length fiber and medium perimeter cultivars can maintain micronaire value below 4.9 when the length potential is maintained and secondary cell wall deposition is reduced. Comparing new selections with perimeter ranked cultivars can assist breeders in selection evaluations and producers in cultivar choices.