Ovule Fibers as a Possible Source of Neps and Motes in Pima Cotton

Abstract

The appearance of green motes in Pima cotton makes what is already a serious problem particularly difficult, since the color is resistant to the normal bleaching process. The source of the colored motes was traced directly to the formation of the ovule fibers and indirectly to ineffective pollination of the cotton plants. Unpollinated ovules produce very fine, long, mature “ovule” fibers bound to the ovule coat, which is easily crushed, thus yielding the “seeds” for the formation of motes and probably neps as well. The formation of the green motes is only one example of ovule motes, and the color of some fibers could be traced to a specific variant of a hybrid. The green ovule motes constitute thus only a particular case of general ovule mote formation. Differentiating between the usual motes and the ovule motes is possible on the basis of the appearance and dimensions of the fibers constituting the motes. Better pollination, as suggested, should thus improve the quality of cotton lint.