65 years of cotton lint yield progress in the USA: Uncovering key influential yield components

Cotton is an essential cash crop with significant importance in industries related to fiber, feed, and oil. However, achieving further improvements in cotton lint yield requires a more comprehensive understanding of different biomass components and the development of targeted management strategies. The objective of this study was to assess the biomass partitioning of 20 cotton cultivars released between 1953 and 2018, determine the rate of gain for lint yield, and identify the contribution of biomass components to yield performance. A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the biomass partitioning of the 20 cotton cultivars released between 1953 and 2018. Correlation, linear, and path analyses were performed to estimate the effects of various biomass components (such as leaf, stem, bolls, burs, seed, and lint harvest index) on lint yield. The study found that lint percentage, lint harvest index, seed biomass, and total aboveground biomass and its components exhibited a linear increase with the year of release. However, improving total aboveground biomass alone without enhancing reproductive partitioning could lead to a decrease in lint yield. Furthermore it was observed that the efficiency of modern cultivars in partitioning aboveground biomass into different plant parts, except for lint, has remained unchanged over the past 65 years of breeding. The results suggest that future research should prioritize improving the lint harvest index to further enhance the potential lint yield of cotton. Merely increasing total aboveground biomass may not yield the desired improvements in lint yield. Optimizing reproductive partitioning is crucial for achieving enhanced lint yield. This study provides valuable insights into the biomass partitioning and yield performance of cotton cultivars spanning several decades. The findings emphasize the importance of focusing on improving the lint harvest index as a key factor in increasing lint yield. The results have implications for the development of targeted management strategies in cotton production and breeding programs, contributing to the overall sustainability and productivity of the cotton industry. The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. •There is a lack of knowledge on which components contribute to lint genetic gain.•Twenty cotton cultivars developed in the last 65 years were grown during 2 years.•Improvement