Abstract

The effect of picking on seed quality attributes was assassed in MCU 7 cotton a short duration variety recommended for cultivation during summer season in rice fields. The quality of seed as judged by germination, field emergence and other vigour tests was sig- nificantly better in the first two pickings than from latter pickings. The seeds obtained from later pickings can be upgraded by delinting the seeds with con. Sulphuric acid and collecting the sinker fraction only while washing the seed with water to free them from traces of acid. Occurrence of immature, insect damaged and hard seeds in higher propor- tions might have been the factors responsible for lowering the seed quality in the later pickings.

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