Determining Cold Tolerance of Cottonseed Germination

Determining Cold Tolerance of Cottonseed Germination ¹C.N. Thompson, ¹,²D.L. Auld, ¹,²G.L. Ritchie, ¹J.S. Oswalt ¹Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX 79409-2122, ²Texas AgriLife Research, Lubbock TX 79403 Introduction The Texas High Plains is a major area of cotton production. If producers were able to plant earlier they could expect higher lint yields and better fiber quality. Historically, growers plant only after soil temperatures reach 65°F but cold fronts in the early spring often cause the soil temperatures to decline below this level. At a minimum, soil temperatures in the seed and root zone should exceed 60oF and the five day forecast for daytime maximum temperatures should exceed 80oF. Additionally, nighttime minimum temperatures should be forecast to be above 50oF for the following 5 days (Boman and Lemon 2005). If producers are capable of planting earlier that could take advantage of early season moisture. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is sensitive to cold conditions during germination and establishment. Identifying cultivars with cold tolerance may provide growers with increased flexibility for sowing date options and allow for better establishment under cool conditions, reducing the costs associated with possible replanting (Tuck, et al., 2010). Identification of commercial cotton cultivars that could germinate at 60oF would greatly enhance cotton production in this region.