The adaptive significance of proline (Pm) accumulation in cotton seeds can be assessed by determining if NaCl tolerance is influenced by changes in the Pm level of the seed. The objective of this study was to determine if exogenous L-Pro and D-Pro reduce NaCl inhibition of radicle growth of germinating cotton seeds. Seeds were imbibed for 24 h at 32°C before transfer to agar medium containing either Pro, NaCl or mixtures of both. Results indicate that exogenous Pro increases the Pro contents of cotton seed radicles and cotyledons to a similar extent. Such increases are independent of whether L- or D-Pro is fed exogenously. Results also show that exogenous Pro does not significantly reduce NaCl inhibition of radicle growth in germinating cotton seeds. .

Field experiments were conducted at four locations in Arizona (Yuma, Maricopa, Marana, Safford) to evaluate 16 cottonseed treatments on cotton that included 12 on Upland (Q. hirsutum L.) and 4 on Pima (Gossvpium barbadense L.). Stand counts were taken to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences among the treatments used for the Upland cottonseed. Significant differences were found among the treatments used for the Pima cotton seed at the Marana and Safford locations only.

A number of representative seed lots of both upland and Pima cotton cultivars and experimental strains have been evaluated utilizing two instruments which measure relative seed coat strength. Seed coat strength was found to have a strong genetic component of determination, with relatively minor influence of environment and year of production being observed Greater seed coat strengths should contribute to the relative resistance to seed damage and cracking during picking ginning and conditioning operations. It may be possible to incorporate this trait into cotton cultivars by mass selection techniques.

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Arizona (Maricopa, Marana, Safford) to evaluate 12 cottonseed treatments on Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). Stand counts were taken to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences among the treatments used at the Marana location. Significant differences were found among the treatments used at the Maricopa and Safford locations.

We evaluated an array of progeny of interspecific cotton crosses in the field. Significant water stress was placed on the plants in mid-summer by withholding water supplied by drip irrigation during plant development earlier in the season. A number of physiological measurements were carried out on selected individual plants of this population during the several week period of imposed drought stress. Overall results confirm that a large degree of variation exists within the population for all traits measured. Initial carbon isotope discrimination measurements suggest this trait may prove useful in estimating transpiration efficiency of cotton genotypes.

The germination percentage and seedling respiration were evaluated on 11 cultivars of Cotton produced in Arizona. Respiration rates of 5-day old seedlings ranged from 6.0 to 16.9 mg /g⁻¹ hr⁻¹ for DP -5690 and KC-311, respectively. Germination percentage ranged from 31 to 87% for KC-311 and DP-51, respectively. A significant negative correlation (r = -.90) between respiration rates and the germination percentage indicates that seed quality is closely associated with early seedling metabolic rates.

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Arizona (Maricopa, Marana, Safford) to evaluate 9 cottonseed treatments on Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). Stand counts were taken to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences among the treatments used at the Maricopa location. Significant differences were found among the treatments used at the Marana and Safford locations.

Cottonseed was treated with several fungicide treatments in an effort to protect the seed and seedling from disease. Seed germination and vigor was evaluated in three Arizona locations; Maricopa, Marana, and Safford. Stand counts were taken on two separate dates after emergence and percent emergence was calculated. Among the three locations only one, Marana, showed significant differences among treatments. The highest percent emergence being seeds treated with Nu-Flow ND at a rate of 7.5 fl oz/cwt. The untreated control placed last in the ranking at this location.

Cottonseed was treated with several fungicide treatments in an effort to protect the seed and seedling from disease. Seed germination and vigor was evaluated in three Arizona locations; Maricopa, Marana, and Safford. Stand counts were taken on two separate dates after emergence at both Safford and Marana and once at Maricopa and percent emergence was calculated. Among the three locations two, Marana and Safford, showed significant differences among treatments. Treatment number 5 placed first at both locations where significant differences were found. The untreated control placed last in the ranking at both Marana and Safford for all dates of sampling.

Cottonseed was treated with several fungicide treatments in an effort to protect the seed and seedling from disease. Seed germination and vigor was evaluated in three Arizona locations; Maricopa, Marana, and Safford. Stand counts were taken on two separate dates after emergence at all three locations and percent emergence (PEM) was calculated. Significant differences in percent emergence due to treatment were observed in the both sample dates at Marana and Safford. Maricopa showed very little significant differences due treatment.