Effects of Plant Pubescence on Spinning Performance in Upland Extra Long Staple Cotton

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is characterized by wide variation in trichome density or pubescence. Smooth leaved cultivars are often preferred, in part because leaf pubescence increases the amount of leaf trash in ginned cotton, lowering lint grade. The effects of leaf pubescence on fiber and yarn properties are not well described. Plant pubescence also has been implicated in both increased resistance and susceptibility of cotton to various insect pests. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant pubescence among Upland extra long staple (ELS) lines developed at the Cotton Improvement Laboratory (CIL), Texas A&M University Agrilife Research, on fiber quality, spinning performance, and yield. Two ELS genotypes differing in pubescence, TAM A-106-15 ELS (smooth) and TAM B182-33 ELS (hairy), along with FiberMax 832LL (FM 832) and DP HTO Pima were planted in Weslaco, TX in 2009 and 2010 as a randomized complete block design with four replications and were evaluated for HVI and AFIS fiber properties and yarn performance. A mini-spinning protocol was used to produce 50 count (11.8 tex carded), combed yarn from each genotype. Yield was evaluated in three environments, 2009 and 2010 in Weslaco, TX and 2010 in College Station, TX.