Cell membrane thermostability as a measure of heat-tolerance in cotton

ABSTRACT

High termperature stress is a major constraint to increased productivity of cotton in Pakistan. A technique based on physiological characteristics is therefore required to screen the cultivars for heat-tolerance. The membrane thermostability test conducted on fully grown young leaves of cotton is an appropriate technique for screening breeding material for heat-tolerance. Genotypes tested showed wide variations in adaptation to high temperature stress and could be broadly grouped into three categories on the basis of cell injury level. Genotypes showing high membrane thermostability gave higher seed cotton yield