Breeding Cottons with Higher Yarn Tenacity

Stronger cotton yams are needed by the textile industry as knit and woven fabric manufacturing speeds increase, thus placing greater strain on cotton yarns. We compare fiber properties as selection criteria for the genetic improvement of yarn tenacity in a breeding population consisting of twenty-five cotton germplasm lines grown for two years at two locations near Florence, SC. Fiber properties measured with the fibrograph, Stelometer, fibronaire, and Arealometer are obtained on lint from each experimental line in this population, along with ring spun yam with a tenacity of 27 tex (22 Ne). Among individual fiber properties, selection for 50% fiber span length results in the greatest gain in yarn tenacity. Simultaneous selection for low Micronaire reading, long 50% fiber span length, and high fiber tenacity improve yam tenacity more so than selection for individual fiber properties. Selecting for fiber properties measured with the Arealometer generally results in lower gains in yarn tenacity. We show individual and combinations of fiber properties that are useful as selection criteria for yarn tenacity improvement.