Evaluation of High Fibre Strength Strains of the American Cotton (G. hirsutum L.) Suitable for High Speed Spinning

Cotton plays important role in Indian economy and provides principal raw material for Indian textile industry. Until late nineties fiber length was considered major fibre quality parameter. However, during nineties genetic improvement of fibre strength became top priority with the adoption of high speed rotor/open-end spinning by the textile industry. Six strains of G. hirsuturn L., namely, P 56-2, P 56-4, P 56-6, C4-9-2-1-1, C4-9-2-2 and P 4515-1 were therefore evaluated for fibre strength and other important quality and economic traits at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during kharif-2003 and kharif-2004. Two strains, namely, P56-4 and P 56-6 showed high fibre strength of 28.1 g/tex and 27.3 g/tex, respectively. This is significant in the light of the fact that most of varieties released in North Zone have fibre strength ranging from 18 g/tex to 20 g/tex. These strains also showed desirable fibre length, micronaire value, uniformity and maturity and were found suitable for rotor/open-end spinning.