biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 46:379-385, 2003 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000023881.42896.89

Inter-Specific Differences in Cotton for Nutrient Partitioning from Subtending Leaves to Reproductive Parts at Various Developmental Stages: Consequences for Fruit Growth and Yield

A. Wahid^1,*, S. Bukhari¹, E. Rasul¹

¹ Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

A field study was carried out to unravel the inter-specific differences in cotton for the partitioning of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Na and Cl from the subtending leaves to the reproductive parts of Gossypium hirsutum, G. barbadense and G. arboreum at various developmental stages. Results revealed significant differences among the species for the various parameters studied. Overall there was a greater fresh and dry matter yield of various reproductive parts and subtending leaves of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense than G. arboreum, although the leaf photosynthetic rate was similar. Age-dependent increase in leaf area/leaf mass ratio indicated a greater partitioning of earlier acquired assimilates to the growth of reproductive parts. Results indicated greater partitioning of N, P, S and Ca during later reproductive growth (from boll production to its opening) in G. hirsutum and G. barbadense but during earlier reproductive growth in G. arboreum (from bud up to flower formation) as was evident by decreased subtending leaf/reproductive parts ratio. It is concluded that better N, P, S and Ca partitioning ability of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense at the onset of boll development played a major role in the better yield and good quality fiber characteristics.

Keywords: Gossypium arboreum; G. barbadense; G. hirsutum; mineral elements; testa

Subjects: calcium, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; chlorine, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; cotton, nutrient partitioning; fruit growth, nutrient partitioning; gas exchange, nutrient partitioning; Gossypium arboreum; Gossypium barbadense; Gossypium hirsutum; inter-specific differences, nutrient partitioning; manganese, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; nitrogen, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; phosphorus, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; potassium, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; sodium, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; sulphur, partitioning from subtending leaves to reproductive parts; testa

Published: November 1, 2003  Show citation