Integrated physiological and agronomic assessment reveals contrasting drought tolerance strategies in cotton genotypes

Authors

  • Rennan Fernandes Pereira
  • Jean Pierre Cordeiro Ramos
  • Pedro Dantas Fernandes
  • José Jaime Vasconcelos Cavalcanti
  • Roseane Cavalcanti dos Santos

Abstract

Drought limits cotton yield by impairing photosynthesis and growth, yet genotypes differ in their adaptive responses. This study aimed to evaluate upland (Gossypium hirsutum var. latifolium) and perennial (G. hirsutum var. Marie-Galante) cotton cultivars in order to identify physiological mechanisms of drought tolerance and promising germplasm for breeding. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with nine cultivars and two water regimes (irrigated control and drought stress). Growth, gas exchanges, cellular water status, boll production and fiber technological traits were assessed. The BRS Rubi, BRS 286, BRS Seridó, CNPA 5M and CNPA 7MH cultivars exhibited distinct drought-tolerance strategies. BRS Rubi and BRS 286 maintained gas exchange rates similar to the control, preserving the photosynthetic capacity throughout the stress period. CNPA 5M and CNPA 7MH adopted a water-conservation strategy, reducing gas exchanges but sustaining a high relative water content, low electrolyte leakage, satisfactory growth and increased root/shoot ratio. Overall, BRS 286, BRS Seridó, CNPA 5M and CNPA 7MH combined superior physiological performance with higher boll production and improved fiber quality. These genotypes are recommended as parents in diallel crosses, including with high-yielding but drought-sensitive cultivars, to expand breeding opportunities for cotton in water-limited environments.

KEYWORDS: Gossypium hirsutum, cotton fiber quality, water stress.

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Published

2025-09-30

How to Cite

PEREIRA, Rennan Fernandes; RAMOS, Jean Pierre Cordeiro; FERNANDES, Pedro Dantas; CAVALCANTI, José Jaime Vasconcelos; SANTOS, Roseane Cavalcanti dos. Integrated physiological and agronomic assessment reveals contrasting drought tolerance strategies in cotton genotypes. Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical [Agricultural Research in the Tropics], Goiânia, p. e82375, 2025. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/pat/article/view/82375. Acesso em: 5 dec. 2025.

Issue

v. 55 (2025)

Section

Research Article

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