Abstract
A study on five new strains namely FD-20, FD-22, LS-440, LSD-158 and LSD-170 and three Desi commercial cottons D-9, Ravi and Rohi, was undertaken to evaluate raw cotton characteristics. Data revealed highly significant differences for staple length and fibre fineness, whereas for bundle strength, the difference was non-significant. Commercial variety D-9 recorded best results for staple and showed moderately better results for fibre strength and fibre fineness.
INTRODUCTION
Cotton in Pakistan mainly belongs to two major groups i.e. American cotton (G. hirsutum) and Desi cotton (G. arboreum). Only Desi cotton was originally cultivated in Pakistan, but the area under Desi has shrunken with the popularization of American cotton after 1914. However, Desi cotton still holds ground in certain parts of the country because of its specific demand in the country and abroad. It was found that the strength of the fibre depends largely on variety and growth conditions and may be affected by ginning practices, weather expo-sure, bacterial and other agronomic actions, which cause them to deteriorate (Anonymous, 1938). Hancock (1944) ex-pressed the views that fibre length, fibre strength and fibre fineness are definitely ge-netic characters of the cotton plant and vari-eties show significant differences in their ex-pression. These characters although, being inherited were found considerably influ-enced by environmental conditions, climate and agronomic treatments. Toor (1964) worked on Desi cottons and found the range for fibre length as 9.5 to 19.5 mm, fibre strength 70 to 80 thousand pounds per
square inch and fibre fineness 6.0 to 7.49 pg/inch. Siddiqui (1966) reported the range for staple length of Desi cottons as 9.53 to 15.88 mm, fibre strength 70 to 80 thousand pounds per square inch and fibre fineness 6.5 to 9.0 mg/inch. Afzal (1969) observed staple length of Desi cotton varieties to range between 9.5 to 15.9 mm and fibre fineness between 6.5 to 10.5 pg/inch. All (1972) reported that fibre length ranged between 1.4.59 to 15.90 mm, fibre strength 73.6 to 84.5 thousand pounds per square inch and fibre fineness from 6.0 to 7.49 /.4g/inch. Sultan (1988) investigated physical characteristics of Punjab Desi cot-tons and found that staple length was 14,5-15.9 mm whereas fineness varied from 7.4- 7.9 pg/inch. Christidis and Harrison (1.955) stated that fineness was a hereditary char-acter which varied under different locations and seasons. This study was undertaken to evaluate physical characteristics of Punjab Desi cottons such as fibre length, strength and fineness.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Lint samples, one kilogram per vari-ety/strain, were acquired from Ayub
