Response of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to Fruiting Branch Removal

Cotton response to fruiting branch removal (FBR) is critical information in estimating plant recovery potential and making management decisions after hail storms or other physical damages. Fruiting branches were removed at first bloom (R8), 2.5‐cm boll (R12) and peak bloom (R16) growth stages. Five FBR treatments were conducted at each of the above three growth stages: 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 %. At harvest, five plants were randomly chosen from each plot and branches separated into three groups: vegetative, lower and upper fruiting branches. Lower fruiting branches were from the nodes where FBR treatments were conducted, whereas upper fruiting branches were the new branches developed after FBR. Seed cotton weight, open boll number and node number in each group were recorded. Fruiting branch removal increased boll number, boll size and boll/node on the upper fruiting branches, which compensated yield loss on lower fruiting branches. Generally, FBR at the first bloom reduced cotton yield more than it did at the 2.5‐cm boll and peak bloom growth stages when FBR percentage was lower than 75 %. The removal of all 16 fruiting branches at peak bloom reduced cotton yield by 16.8 %, indicating remarkable compensation ability by cotton plants in climates with a long growing season.