Effect of production region, ginning and delinting on Sahel cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar seed germination and seedling vigor

Study of production region, ginning and delinting effects on cotton seed germination and vigor, in Sahel variety was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design by 4 replications. Treatments were included ginning of cottonseed in west and east area of Golestan by hand, roller, 8 and 16 saw gin and also delinting by Solphoric acid and no delinting. By standard germination test, numbers of normal seedlings, mean germination time, seedling length and dry weight were determined and electrical conductivity of seeds was measured. The interaction effect of Seed production region× ginning methods×delinting was significant on studied traits. The highest and lowest of normal seedlings numbers were related to Seeds of east region ginned by roller, no delinted seeds and 16 saw gin, delinted seeds, respectively. East seeds of Golestan which ginned by 16 saw and no delinting and west of Golestan, ginned by roller gin and delinting had the highest and lowest mean germination time, respectively. Delinted and no delinted seeds in east and west of Golestan province and ginned by roller, 8 and 16 saw gin had the highest and lowest of seedling length, repectively. Seeds of east province which ginned by hand, roller gin and delinted and no delinted seeds which ginned by 8 and 16 saw gin had the highest and the lowest seedling dry weight. The lowest and the highest of electro conductivity were related to ginned seeds of west region by 8 saw gin, no delinting and ginned by hand and delinting, respectively. Based on results, Sahel cultivar seed ginning, especially produced in west of province by roller gin could be recommended for reduction of seed coat mechanical injury and destructive effects of delinting by acid on germination and seed vigor.