U.S. grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is increasingly sold on export markets which impose stringent fiber quality requirements. This has necessitated that cotton fiber improvement programs simultaneously select for both lint yield and fiber quality. A population of F8 and M8 lines were selected based on the three criteria of lint yield (8 lines); fiber quality (9 lines); and lint yield and fiber quality (8 lines). Lint yield, HVI fiber quality and gross revenue of these experimental lines were compared to eight commercial cultivars at Lubbock, TX in both 2003 and 2004 and at College Station, TX in 2004. Gross revenue was estimated using the Daily Price Estimation System for 2004. At Lubbock, TX the eight lines selected only for lint yield produced the highest lint yield and gross revenue but had an average price per unit of lint equivalent to the eight commercial cultivars. However, at College Station, the greatest gross revenue was generated by the eight lines selected for both lint yield and fiber quality. These results indicate that it is important for cotton breeders to emphasize both lint yield and fiber quality when selecting elite lines for potential release as commercial cultivars.
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