Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2019, Vol. 18 Issue (11): 2492-2504    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62617-1
Crop Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Spatial distribution of bolls affects yield formation in different genotypes of Bt cotton varieties
NIE Jun-jun1*, YUAN Yan-chao1*, QIN Du-lin1, 2, LIU Yan-hui1, 3, WANG Shuang-lei1, 4, LI Jin-pu1, 5, ZHANG Mei-ling1, 6, ZHAO Na1, GUO Wen-jun1, QI Jie1, MAO Li-li1, SONG Xian-liang1, SUN Xue-zhen 
1 State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology/College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, P.R.China
2 Technical Guidance Station of Cotton Production in Shandong Province, Jinan 250013, P.R.China
3 Qufu Agricultural Bureau, Qufu 273100, P.R.China
4 Yantai Agricultural Technology Extension Service, Yantai 264000, P.R.China
5 Seed Management Department of Pingdingshan, Pingdingshan 467000, P.R.China
6 Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, P.R.China
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
Abstract  To optimize the spatial distribution of cotton bolls and to increase the yield, the relationship between yield components and boll spatial distribution was investigated among different Bt (Bacillus thuringensis) cotton varieties.  A five-year field experiment was conducted to reveal the reasons for the differences in lint yield and fiber quality across three Bt cotton varieties with different yield formations from 2013 to 2017.  The lint yield of Jiman 169 (the average yield from 2013–2017 was 42.2 g/plant) was the highest, i.e., 16.3 and 36.9% higher than Lumianyan 21 (L21) and Daizimian 99B (99B), respectively.  And the differences in boll weight among the three cultivars were similar to the lint yield, while the others yield components were not.  So the increase in lint yield was mainly attributed to the enlargement in boll weight.  However, the change in fiber quality was inconsistent with the lint yield, and the quality of L21 was significantly better than that of Jimian 169 (J169) and 99B, which was caused by the diversity of boll spatial distribution.  Compared with 99B, the loose-type J169 had the highest number of large bolls in inner positions; the tight-type L21 had a few large bolls and the highest number of lower and middle bolls.  And approximately 80.72% of the lint yield was concentrated on the inner nodes in Jiman 169, compared with 77.44% of L21 and 66.73% of 99B during the five-year experiment.  Although lint yield was significantly affected by the interannual changes, the lint yield of J169 was the highest and the most stable, as well as its yield components.  These observations demonstrated the increase in lint yield was due to the increase in boll weight, and the large bolls and high fiber quality were attributed to the optimal distribution of bolls within the canopies.
Keywords:  Bt cotton        yield formation        boll spatial distribution        lint yield        fiber quality  
Received: 23 July 2018   Accepted:
Fund: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31601253), the Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System, China (SDAIT-03), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (ZR2016CQ20).
Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence SUN Xue-zhen, Tel: +86-538-8242487, E-mail: sunxz@sdau.edu.cn; SONG Xian-liang, Tel: +86-538-8242309, E-mail: xlsong@sdau.edu.cn   
About author:  NIE Jun-jun, E-mail: niejunjun521@126.com; YUAN Yan-chao, E-mail: yuanchao_y@126.com; * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

NIE Jun-jun, YUAN Yan-chao, QIN Du-lin, LIU Yan-hui, WANG Shuang-lei, LI Jin-pu, ZHANG Mei-ling, ZHAO Na, GUO Wen-jun, QI Jie, MAO Li-li, SONG Xian-liang, SUN Xue-zhen . 2019. Spatial distribution of bolls affects yield formation in different genotypes of Bt cotton varieties. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 18(11): 2492-2504.

Ahmad M, Khan N U, Mohammad F, Khan S A, Munir I, Bibi Z, Shaheen S. 2011. Genetic potential and heritability studies for some polygenic traits in cotton (G. hirsutum L.). Pakistan Journal of Botany, 43, 1713–1718.
Biles S P, Cothren J T. 2001. Flowering and yield response of cotton to application of mepiquat chloride and PGR-IV. Crop Science, 41, 1834–1837.
Blaise D. 2006. Yield, boll distribution and fiber quality of hybrid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as influenced by organic and modern methods of cultivation. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 192, 248–256.
Chen Y, Li Y B, Hu D P, Zhang X, Wen Y J, Chen D H. 2016. Spatial distribution of potassium uptake across the cotton plant affects ?ber length. Field Crops Research, 192, 126–133.
Clawson E L, Cothren J T, Blouin D C. 2006. Nitrogen fertilization and yield of cotton in ultra-narrow and conventional row spacings. Agronomy Journal, 98, 72–79.
Constable G A. 1991. Mapping of the production and survival of fruit on field grown cotton. Agronomy Journal, 83, 374–378.
Dai J L, Li W J, Tang W, Zhang D M, Li Z H, Lu H Q, Enejia A E, Dong H Z. 2015. Manipulation of dry matter accumulation and partitioning with plant density in relation to yield stability of cotton under intensive management. Field Crops Research, 180, 207–215.
Dong H Z, Li Z H, Luo Z, Lu H Q, Tang W, Zhang D M, Li W J, Xin C S. 2010. Effect of plant density and vegetative branch retention on within-plant yield distribution and maturity performance of cotton. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 18, 792–798. (in Chinese)
Dong H Z, Mao S C, Zhang W F, Chen D H, 2014. On boll-setting optimization theory for cotton cultivation and its new development. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 47, 441–451. (in Chinese)
Feng G Y, Luo H H, Zhang Y L, Gou L, Yao Y D, Lin Y Z, Zhang W F. 2016. Relationship between plant canopy characteristics and photosynthetic productivity in diverse cultivars of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The Crop Journal, 4, 499–508.
Heitholt J J. 1993. Cotton boll retention and its relationship to lint yield. Crop Science, 33, 485–490.
Hofs J L, Haua B, Marais D. 2006. Boll distribution patterns in Bt and non-Bt cotton cultivars I. Study on commercial irrigated farming systems in South Africa. Field Crops Research, 98, 203–209.
Iqbal M, Naeem M, Rizwan M, Nazeer W, Qasim M S, Aziz U, Aslam T, Ijaz M. 2013. Studies of genetic variation for yield related traits in upland cotton. American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture & Environment Science, 13, 611–618.
Jenkins J N, Mc Carty J C, Parrott W L. 1990. Fruiting efficiency in cotton: Boll size and boll set percentage. Crop Science, 30, 857–860.
Johnson R M, Downer R, Bradow J M, Bauer P J, Sadler E J. 2002. Variability in cotton fiber yield, fiber quality and soil properties in a south eastern coastal plain. Agronomy Journal, 94, 1305–1316.
Jones M A, Wells R. 1998. Fiber yield and quality of cotton grown at two divergent population densities. Crop Science, 38, 1190–1195.
Khan A, Najeeb U, Wang L, Yuen Tan D K, Yang G Z, Munsif F, Ali S, Hafeez A. 2017. Planting density and sowing date strongly in?uence growth and lint yield ofcotton crops. Field Crops Research, 209, 129–135.
Kong F L, Jiang B G, Zhang Q Y, Yang F X. 2000. Genetic improvements of cotton varieties in Huang-Huai Region in China since 1950s. I. Improvements on yield and yield components. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 26, 148–156. (in Chinese)
Krishnarao K V, Mary T N. 1996. Variability, correlation and path analysis of yield and fiber traits in upland cotton. Madras Agricultural Journal, 24, 3–4.
Liakatas A, Roussopoulos D, Whittington W J. 1998. Controlled-temperature effects on cotton yield and ?bre properties. Journal of Agricultural Science, 130, 463–471.
Liu J R, Meng Y L, Chen J, Lv F J, Ma Y N, Chen B L, Wang Y H, Zhou Z G, Oosterhuis D. 2015. Effect of late planting and shading on cotton yield and ?ber quality formation. Field Crops Research, 183, 1–13.
Lu H Q, Dai J L, Li W J, Tang W, Zhang D M, Enejia A E, Dong H Z. 2017. Yield and economic bene?ts of late planted short-season cotton versus full-season cotton relayed with garlic. Field Crops Research, 200, 80–87.
Lv F J, Liu J G, Ma Y N, Chen J, Abudurezikekey A K, Wang Y H, Chen B L, Meng Y L, Zhou Z G. 2013. Effect of shading on cotton yield and quality on different fruiting branches. Crop Science, 53, 2670–2678.
Mao L L, Zhang L Z, Eversc J B, Werf W V D, Liu S D, Zhang S P, Wang B M, Li Z H. 2015. Yield components and quality of intercropped cotton in response to mepiquat chloride and plant density. Field Crops Research, 179, 63–71.
Mao S C. 2010. Global cotton 60 years review and outlook. Chinese Cotton, 37, 2–6. (in Chinese)
Papastylianou P T, Argyrokastritis I G. 2014. Effect of limited drip irrigation regime on yield, yield components, and ?ber quality of cotton under Mediterranean conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 142, 127–134.
Pettigrew W T. 2001. Environmental effects on cotton ?ber carbohydrate concentration and quality. Crop Science, 41, 1108–1113.
Pujer S, Siwach S S, Deshmukh J, Sangwan R S, Sangwan O. 2014. Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 5, 284–289.
Read J J, Reddy K R, Jenkins J N. 2006. Yield and fiber quality of Upland cotton as influenced by nitrogen and potassium nutrition. European Journal of Agronomy, 24, 282–290.
Richard G P, Roy G C, Zhang J F. 2006. Genetic variation for agronomic and ?ber properties in an introgressed recombinant inbred population of cotton. Crop Science, 46, 1311–1317.
Salahuddin S, Abro S, Kandhro M M, Salahuddin L, Laghari S. 2010. Correlation and path coefficient analysis of yield components of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) sympodial. World Applied Sciences Journal, 8, 71–75.
Schurr U, Walter A, Rascher U. 2006. Functional dynamics of plant growth and photosynthesis from steady-state to dynamics from homogeneity to heterogeneity. Plant Cell & Environment, 29, 340–352.
Shakeel A, Talib I, Rashid M, Saeed A, Ziaf K, Saleem M F. 2015. Genetic diversity among upland cotton genotypes for quality and yield related traits. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 52, 73–77.
Tan C S. 1992. Fine Quality and High Yielding Cultivation of Cotton. China Agriculture Press, Beijing. pp. 43–79. (in Chinese).
Tang B, Jenkins J N, Mccarty J C, Watson C E. 1993. F2 hybrids of host plant germplasm and cotton cultivars: I. Heterosis and combining ability for lint yield and yield components. Crop Science, 33, 700–705.
Teague T G, Neele K, Flanders A, Fowler L. 2011. Tarnished plant bug and the plant growth regulator, mepiquat chloride - in?uence on cotton fruiting dynamics and yield. Research Series - Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, 589, 158–170.
Ungar E D, Wallach D, Kletter E. 1987. Cotton response to bud and boll removal. Agronomy Journal, 79, 491–497.
Wang Q, Han S, Zhang L Z, Zhang D S, Werf W V D, Evers J B, Sun H Q, Su Z C, Zhang S P. 2016. Density responses and spatial distribution of cotton yield and yield components in jujube (Zizyphus jujube)/cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) agroforestry. European Journal of Agronomy, 79, 58–65.
Wilkerson J B, Hart W E. 1996. Yield sensing technology in cotton harvesting applications. In: Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Nashville, Tennessee, United States. pp. 184–186.
Wu Y, Zhao W Q, Meng Y L, Wang Y H, Chen B L, Zhou Z G. 2018. Relationships between temperature-light meteorological factors and seedcotton biomass per boll at different boll positions. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17, 1315–1326.
Yeates S J, Constable G A, Mc Cumstie T. 2010. Irrigated cotton in the tropical dry season. III: Impact of temperature, cultivar and sowing date on ?ber quality. Field Crops Research, 116, 300–307.
Zhang D G, Kong F L, Zhang Q Y, Liu W X, Yang F X, Xu N Y, Liao Q, Zou K. 2003. Genetic improvement of cotton varieties in the Yangtse Valley in China since 1950s. I. Improvement on yield and yield components. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 29, 208–215. (in Chinese)
Zhang M L, Song X L, Ji H, Wang Z L, Sun X Z. 2017. Carbon partitioning in the boll plays an important role in ?ber quality in colored cotton. Cellulose, 24, 1087–1097.
Zhang Y J, Song X Z, Yang G Z, Li Z H, Lu H Q, Kong X Q, Enejia A E, Dong H Z. 2015. Physiological and molecular adjustment of cotton to waterlogging at peak-?owering in relation to growth and yield. Field Crops Research, 179, 164–172.
Zhao D, Oosterhuis D M. 2000. Cotton responses to shade at different growth stages: Growth, lint yield and ?bre quality. Experimental Agriculture, 36, 27–39.
Zhao W C, Du M W, Xu D Y, Lu H Y, Tian X L, Li Z H. 2017. Interactions of single mepiquat chloride application at different growth stages with climate, cultivar, and plant population for cotton yield. Crop Science, 57, 1713–1724.
Zhao W Q, Wu Y, Zahoor R, Wang Y H, Ma Y N, Chen B L, Meng Y L, Zhou Z G. 2018. Effects of planting dates and shading on carbohydrate content, yield, and fiber quality in cotton with respect to fruiting positions. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17, 1106–1119.
Zhi X Y, Han Y C, Li Y B, Wang G P, Du W L, Li X X, Mao S C, Feng L. 2016. Effects of plant density on cotton yield components and quality. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15, 1469–14
[1] LIU Zhen-yu, LI Yi-yang, Leila. I. M. TAMBEL, LIU Yu-ting, DAI Yu-yang, XU Ze, LENG Xin-hua, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN De-hua, CHEN Yuan. Enhancing boll protein synthesis and carbohydrate conversion by the application of exogenous amino acids at the peak flowering stage increased the boll Bt toxin concentration and lint yield in cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(6): 1684-1694.
[2] LIU Xue-jing, YIN Bao-zhong, HU Zhao-hui, BAO Xiao-yuan, WANG Yan-dong, ZHEN Wen-chao. Physiological response of flag leaf and yield formation of winter wheat under different spring restrictive irrigation regimes in the Haihe Plain, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(9): 2343-2359.
[3] CHEN Yuan, LIU Zhen-yu, HENG Li, Leila I. M. TAMBEL, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN Yuan, CHEN De-hua. Effects of plant density and mepiquat chloride application on cotton boll setting in wheat–cotton double cropping system[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(9): 2372-2381.
[4] CHEN Yuan, LIU Zhen-yu, HENG Li, Leila I. M. TAMBEL, CHEN De-hua. High plant density increases seed Bt endotoxin content in Bt transgenic cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(7): 1796-1806.
[5] ZHANG Xiang, ZHOU Ming-yuan, LI Ya-bing, LIU Zhen-yu, CHEN Yuan, CHEN De-hua. Nitrogen spraying affects seed Bt toxin concentration and yield in Bt cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(5): 1229-1238.
[6] CHEN Yuan, LIU Zhen-yu, Leila I. M. TAMBEL, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN Yuan, CHEN De-hua . Reduced square Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein content of transgenic cotton under N deficit[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(1): 100-108.
[7] LIANG Fu-bin, YANG Cheng-xun, SUI Long-long, XU Shou-zhen, YAO He-sheng, ZHANG Wang-feng. Flumetralin and dimethyl piperidinium chloride alter light distribution in cotton canopies by optimizing the spatial configuration of leaves and bolls[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2020, 19(7): 1777-1788.
[8] HU Qun, JIANG Wei-qin, QIU Shi, XING Zhi-peng, HU Ya-jie, GUO Bao-wei, LIU Guo-dong, GAO Hui, ZHANG Hong-cheng, WEI Hai-yan. Effect of wide-narrow row arrangement in mechanical pot-seedling transplanting and plant density on yield formation and grain quality of japonica rice[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2020, 19(5): 1197-1214.
[9] ZHANG Xiang, RUI Qiu-zhi, LIANG Pan-pan, WEI Chen-hua, DENG Guo-qiang, CHEN Yuan, CHEN Yuan, DONG Zhao-di, CHEN De-hua. Dynamics of Bt cotton Cry1Ac protein content under an alternating high temperature regime and effects on nitrogen metabolism[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2018, 17(09): 1991-1998.
[10] ZHAO Wen-qing, WU You, Zahoor Rizwan, WANG You-hua, MA Yi-na, CHEN Bing-lin, MENG Ya-li, ZHOU Zhi-guo. Effects of planting dates and shading on carbohydrate content, yield, and fiber quality in cotton with respect to fruiting positions[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2018, 17(05): 1106-1119.
[11] QIAO Fang-bin, HUANG Ji-kun, WANG Shu-kun, LI Qiang. The impact of Bt cotton adoption on the stability of pesticide use[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(10): 2346-2356.
[12] XU Bo, ZHOU Zhi-guo, GUO Lin-tao, XU Wen-zheng, ZHAO Wen-qin, CHEN Bing-lin, MENG Ya-li, WANG You-hua. Susceptible time window and endurable duration of cotton fiber development to high temperature stress[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(09): 1936-1945.
[13] ZHANG Xiang, HU Da-peng, LI Yuan, CHEN Yuan, Eltayib H. M. A. Abidallha, DONG Zhao-di, CHEN De-hua, ZHANG Lei . Developmental and hormonal regulation of fiber quality in two natural-colored cotton cultivars[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(08): 1720-1729.
[14] LUO Jun-yu, ZHANG Shuai, ZHU Xiang-zhen, LU Li-min, WANG Chun-yi, LI Chun-hua, CUI Jin-jie, ZHOU Zhi-guo . Effects of soil salinity on rhizosphere soil microbes in transgenic Bt cotton fields[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(07): 1624-1633.
[15] WANG Jun, CHEN Yuan, YAO Meng-hao, LI Yuan, WEN Yu-jin, CHEN Yuan, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN De-hua. The effects of high temperature level on square Bt protein concentration of Bt cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2015, 14(10): 1971-1979.
No Suggested Reading articles found!