Ginning Efficiency Between Diverse Genetic Groups of Upland Cotton.

The rising cost of energy in ginning cotton necessitates that we evaluate the diverse array of germplasm currently available for improving ginning efficiency. The objective was to study genetic variability for net ginning energy requirement and speed of ginning among five diverse groups of upland cotton cultivars which included 12 transgenic, 7 conventional, 13 strains and germplasm, 9 lines from backcross families, and 5 semi-naked seed cultivars. The materials were planted at Stoneville during 2008 and 2009. Fifty boll bulk samples were harvested for each entry and ginned on a 10-saw laboratory gin stand where power consumed by the gin and time required to gin the material were recorded. Data on fiber quality, fuzz percent, lint turnout, fibers/seed, and boll weight were also recorded to check for associations between ginning efficiency and these traits. The semi-naked seed group averaged the lowest energy to gin, the lowest values for strength, length, fuzz percent, fibers/seed, and maturity ratio. Significantly lower nep size, seed coat neps, and short fiber contents were also observed for the semi-naked seed group. Correlations between group means indicated significant positive association (P<0.01) between ginning rate and fibers/seed, ginning rate and lint percent for three of the groups. Significant negative association (P<0.01) were observed between ginning rate and fuzz percent. Net ginning energy was positively and significantly associated with fiber length, strength and fuzz percent. Ginning rate was negatively and significantly affected by nep number. Nep size and number positively affected net ginning energy. The correlation between fuzz percent and fiber/seed with the other parameters appeared to be useful tools in selecting cultivars with good ginning efficiency.