Update on Variety and Production Trends Impacting Seed Size

Commercial cotton variety turnover continues to be high as new biotechnology traits and improved native trait packages enter the planting seed market. Farmers have seed variety choices, and genetic-related seed size varies among those choices. Growing environment can influence harvested seed density within heritable seed size categories. Variety choice is heavily weighted toward biotechnology trait packages, yield potential, and disease resistance. Seed size hitting the gins depends on variety market share, and regional growing conditions including water availability and disease incidence. Latest variety market share information, analysis of varietal seed size, and observations on factors affecting seed size in 2020 is presented.