REDUCING SEQUENTIAL COTTON BOLL SIZING FROM THE 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD TO 4TH BOLL ALONG LATERAL BRANCHES EXTENDING FROM THE MAIN STEM OF THE COTTON PLANT

摘要

Sequential sizing, more specifically with cotton, a decrease in the size of the bolls along the lateral branches with increasing distance from the main stem is a normal feature of cotton and other fruiting plants. It is suggested that sequential sizing is a result of the auxin gradient from the tip of the plant shoots down to the roots. Cotton boll diameter decreased by 45 % at the 4th boll from the main stem. In contrast, Stoller’s Sugar MoverTM treatment reduced this effect; the 4th boll diameterhad decreased by only 12 %. The number of seeds in the Stoller’s Sugar MoverTM treatment was increased by 6 % while the lint content was increased by 15 %. There was no significant difference in lint quality comparing untreated to Stoller’s Sugar MoverTM treatment. With reference to the scientific literature a hypothesis for the mode of action for the reduced sequential sizing is proposed.