Growth and Assimilate Conversion of Cotton Bolls (Gossypium hirsutum L.). 2. Influence of Temperature on Boll Maturation Period and Assimilate Conversion

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Abstract
A negative exponential relationship between temperature and boll maturation period (BMP), is hypothesized from published data. A crucial experiment was undertaken to test this hypothesis. Six groups of cotton plants were placed under different temperature regimes, half of these groups having a daily temperature amplitude of 4 °C, the remainder of 10 °C. The resulting BMP values showed good agreement with the hypothesis and a Q10 of 2.46–2.56 was calculated. Since the Q10 for maintenance respiration is about 2.2, the conversion efficiency of cotton bolls should increase slightly with increasing temperature. However, the measured increase of conversion efficiency with temperature cannot be explained from reduced maintenance respiration alone and this suggests a shift in boll composition as well. Bolls with a short BMP are produced at a lower cost per unit of mature dry matter than those having a long BMP.

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