INFLUENCE OF FLOWER BUD REMOVAL ON GROWTH, DRY MATTER PRODUCTION AND PARTITIONING IN COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of flower bud removal on crop growth and dry matter production at the experimental farm of Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan, during the crop season 1999 to 2001. Cotton cultivar CIM-482 was planted during last week of May having three treatments consisting of simulated flower bud loss, inflicted at squaring and bloom phases of cotton growth and development. Nitrogen was applied at the rate of 150 kg ha-1 at squaring and/or bloom stages of cotton. The removal of squares was performed weekly in respective phases of growth. The treatments were arranged in split plot design having three replications. Results showed that complete or partial removal of flower buds during squaring and bloom stages caused significant increase in plant height and number of nodes on main stem. There were significant differences in vegetative, reproductive and total dry matter production among different flower bud removal inflicted either at squaring and bloom stages coupled with partial and complete flower bud removals. Bloom stage removal treatments significantly reduced reproductive-vegetative ratio (RVR) values compared to squaring stage. The removal of flower buds caused heavy fruit shedding compared to non-simulated crop.