FRUITING SITES IN COTTON - SEED QUALITY

Cottonseed, Gossypium hirsutum L., production and quality are affected by agronomic practices, cultivar differences, and environmental condi tions. Experiments were conducted to compare the quality of seeds prod uced from six cultivars. Cotton was grown in experimental plots at Mis sissippi State, MS. At harvest, bolls were collected from selected pos itions on fruiting branches of the plants. After ginning, seed was col lected for evaluation. Quality of the seed was determined by seed weig ht, kernel weight, size and color, microbial content, oil content, and free fatty acid (FFA) content of the oil. For all cultivars, yield an d quality were highest in bolls adjacent to the main stem on branches in the center of the plant. Statistical analysis indicated that seed y ield, seed and kernel weight, and oil content exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) cultivar by fruiting site interaction. FFA and microbial co ntent were significantly (p < 0.05) different among cultivars and frui ting sites.