Screening of Desi Cotton (<i>G.Arboreum) </i> Suitable for Surgical Properties

Abstract

Among 40 G. arboreum cultivars evaluated for surgical properties during 2011-12 and 2012-13 at CICR, regional station, Sirsa, fifteen cultivars were identified with excellent inherent properties for surgical cotton better than the Indian Pharmacopia Standards for surgical properties. The superior cultivars for absorbency were hybrid CICR 2 (1.0 sec) followed by CISA 17-93 (1.1 sec) and HD 432 (1.1 sec); for water holding capacity cultivars CISA 310 (28.1 g), HD 123 (27.3 g) and hybrid CICR 2 (27.1 g); for sinking time the cultivars were LD 694 (1.2 sec) followed by CISA 17-93 (1.3 sec) and hybrid CICR 2 (1.4 sec); for lowest ash content cultivars were AC 36-31(0.25 %) followed by LD 327 (0.28%) and CISA 6-256; for minimum water soluble substances cultivars were CISA-6-256 (0.26 g), RG 540 (0.27 g) and LD 327 (0.28 g). All the identified cultivars did not show any response with acidity/alkalinity. The yield was significantly higher in hybrid CICR 2 (35.2 qtl), CISA 17-93 (31.0 qtl) and CISA 6-295 (27.0 qtl). The promising lines with high yield in combination of superiority for absorbent properties were hybrid CICR 2 followed by varieties CISA 17-93, CISA 614, LD694, and HD 432. These can be promoted among the farmers for higher yield and profitability and also to provide the raw materials for reviving the surgical cotton industry.