XVI International Botanical Congess

The development of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seed trichomes ('fibers') begins around the day of anthesis coinciding with pollination, fertilization and the beginning of embryo development. Non-successful fertilization or embryo abortion leads to the arrest of parental tissue differentiation and seed development. Underdeveloped cotton seeds ('motes') produce shorter fibers with thinner secondary cell walls. The lack of cellulose layers in secondary walls interferes with the dyeability of cotton yarns and textiles, which presents a serious problem for cotton producers and the cotton processing industry. We performed a comparative anatomical analysis of successful and nonsuccessful cotton seed development with special emphasis on tissues involved in nutrient transport.