1Division of Plant Physioloy and Biochemistry, CPRI, Simla-171001
2Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore-7
Department of Crop Physiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003
* Part thesis submitted by the first author to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in part fulfilment for the award of Ph. D. in Crop Physiology.
Growth patterns of boll and its components in cotton cultivars, Suvin and MCU 5 and one lintless mutant genotype of MCU 5 were investigated. Relative growth rates of boll and its components declined with the advancement of boll age. RGR was found to be significant for the entire boll, whereas among the individual component, it was significant for fibres only. Cultivars exhibited increase in RGR of fibre during mid course of fibre development when growth rates of seeds and burs decreased. Fibre RGR declined comparatively in MCU 5 due to early maturation of boll. Lintless mutant of MCU 5 showed significant inerease in RGR's of boll, bur and seed during active boll growth period due to compensatory increase in growth rates in the absence of fibre.
