Ginning Efficiency in Upland Cotton - Research Progress

Improved ginning efficiency incorporates both reduced net gin stand energy usage (that above idling) and increased ginning rate. Tests for ginning efficiency have indicated that significant differences existed between cultivars for these traits. These differences were attributed to fiber-seed attachment forces. Cultivars with lower attachment forces consumed the least amount of net gin stand energy. It was also found that ginning rates were consistently negatively correlated with fuzz percent and positively correlated with net gin stand energy. So far, enough ginning and genetic information has been collected to enable cotton breeders to include ginning efficiency as a value-added trait in cotton improvement. Molecular studies to identify QTL associated with ginning rate and net gin stand energy is underway.