Determination the effect of wilt disease (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) on seed content and fiber quality of cotton

The study was carried out to determine the effect of wilt disease (Verticillium dahliae) on seed content and fiber quality of cotton (Gossipium hirsitum L.). The experiment set up in randomized blocks design methods with four replications in Dicle University, Agricultural Faculty research area that is naturally infested with the pathogen in Diyarbakır in 2014. Stoneville 468 (Moderately Tolerant) and Beyaz Altın 119 (Moderately Susceptible) cotton varieties are used in the study. The land prepared for sowing and cotton seeds were sown in the 23th of May, 2014. Necessary agricultural practices were performed until the harvest. During the harvest, the stem of plants were cut 5-6 cm above ground level for each plot and the disease severity was recorded according to 0-3 disease scales. Also in Diyarbakir and Batman 5 farmers field were checked in the same way and the plants were evaluated according to the 0-3 scale respectively. During harvest 40-50 grams seed cotton was brought to the laboratory for each character. After ginning, cotton seed were treated with sulfuric acid to delint at the laboratory. After that delinted seeds were grinded with a mixer for seed content analysis. The prepared samples were stored at –18 0C in a deep freeze. The samples were keept in a pastor oven at 70 0C for 24 hours for their humidity to stabilize. Then the seed contents were analyzed by "Nor- XDS Rapid Content Analyzer" device. Also for each character, to determine the effect of wilt disease on fiber quality properties, 20 g lint analized by "HVI 1000 Spectrum" device. According to 0-3 disease scale; ginning efficiency, protein content, oil content, ash content, starch content and cellulose content of seeds were found to be significantly different at farmers fields and research area also 100 seed weigh and moisture content were not determined differently at the farmers field, but were found differently in research area. Micronaire, maturity, trash count, trash area were determined differently in both farmers field and research area. Uniformity index, spinning consistency index, upper half mean length, amount fiber, strength and yellowness were not found differently in the farmers field and also research area. Short fiber index, elongation, reflectance were not determined differently in the farmers field, but were found differently in the research area. The moisture of lint was found differently at the farmers field but not differently at the research area.