Response of oil and protein content to seed size in cotton.

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the response of oil and protein content to non-heritable variation of seed size in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Six classes of seed size were 1121 mg. The results showed that germination and emergence increased linearly with seed size and R 2 of these relationships were 92 and 89%, respectively. This means that larger seed had higher potential of germination and emergence. Also, there was a strong linear relationship between seed weight and oil content. Seed weight provided a better indication of oil content (R 2 =0.78) than protein content (R 2 =0.43). There are no considerable relationship between seed size and protein content of seed. There was a positive and significant correlation between seed weight and oil content (r=0.88**), germination percent (r=0.95**), germination index (r=0.84*), emergence percent (r=0.94**) and emergence index (r=0.88**). This results suggest that oil content, germination and emergence of cotton seed was largely affected by seed size.