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Evaluation of Seed Treatments to Enhance Pima Cotton Seedling Emergence¹

Previous research has shown that germination of cottonseed (Gossypium spp.) can be improved during low temperature by treating seed with gibberellic acid (GA₃), kinetin, or by elevating the seed moisture level. The work reported here was conducted to evaluate these seed treatments as aids to improving seed germination of G. barbadense L. (‘Pima S-4’) and to determine if they enhance seedling emergence in fields with low soil temperatures. Soaking seed in water for 6 hours before chilling at 5 C significantly reduced visual chilling injury. Both kinetin and GA had little effect on % germination, but vigor of germinating seed was increased in the laboratory when seed were soaked for 3 hours in 0.1 or 1.0 mg/liter kinetin, or 100 or 500 mg/liter GA.

When similar seed treatments were evaluated in several field plantings with low soil temperatures, neither chemical improved the number of seedlings emerged or the time required for emergence. GA at the level that promoted seed vigor in the laboratory resulted in greatly reduced emergence because of spindly growth. Soaking seed in water before planting generally reduced emergence with the degee of reduction directly related to length of soaking. Seed that were soaked for 3 hours showed abnormal development of cotyledons and reduced dry wt. compared to nonsoaked seed. Thus these seed treatments cannot be recommended as aids to enhance Pima cotton seedlings emergence.

Key Words: Kinetin • Gibberellic acid • Seed soaking • Elevated seed moisture • Seed germination • Chilling injury • Gossypium barbadense • Low soil temperature

² Associate professor, assistant in research, research associate, and former graduate student, Dep. of Plant Sciences, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Received for publication July 17, 1976.