Applications of AFIS Fineness and Maturity Module and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Fiber Maturity Evaluation

Abstract

Worldwide round-testing and calibration of the nep-counting and fiber-length modules of the Zellweger Uster advanced fiber information system (AFIS) are well advanced. Lack of appropriate quantitative calibration standards for fiber maturity has limited similar development of the prototypic AFIS fineness and maturity (F&M) module. A combination of calcium x-ray fluorescence Spectroscopy (Ca-XRF) and AFIS-F&M mapping of fiber quality from twenty-one days post anthesis (DPA) to boll opening (56 DPA) permits direct comparisons of AFIS-determined fiber physical maturity (as micronAFIS, circularity, and cross-sectional area) with fiber chronological maturity (as DPA) and physiochemical maturity (as Ca-XRF). The AFIS-F&M module is a powerful tool that makes possible quantitative comparisons of fiber maturity across time (during fiber development and in different crop years), across space (different boll and locule positions and different growing areas), within single bolls and locules, and between cotton varieties and species.In the U.S., price, marketability, and utility value of cotton lint are determined during cotton classing [ 14]. The high volume instrumentation (HVI) system used in U.S. classing offices provides quantitations of fiber parameters, i.e., micronaire, fineness, length and length uniformity index, short fiber content, strength and elongation, and maturity, as well as instrumental readings of color, trash, and sugar content [3,9,11 ]. Standard HVt fiber shape and size measurements require a minimum of 3.0 to 3.3 grams of randomly collected, ginned fibers subjected before testing to defined pretreatment or conditioning [ 1 ]. The HVI sample weight requirement significantly exceeds single-boll fiber weight, thus precluding examination of fiber quality levels and uniformity at the boll, locule, or seed level. Since the major component of fiber quality variance is at the seed level [2], rapid, reproducible, statistically valid, small-sample quantitations of fiber quality are essential if fiber quality levels and uniformity are to be improved.The sample size for fiber quality determinations with the Zellweger-Uster advanced fiber information system (AFIS)L equipped with the prototypic 5neness and maturity (FdtM) module can theoretically be set between 1 and 10,000 fibers, depending on available fiber sample size. However, a practical AHS-PAM sampk-size lower limit has been set empirically at > 500 fibers or 100 mg fiber [ 13]. This small-sample capability of AF1S-FdcM is particularly valuabk in research situations where fiber quality (size andshape) measurements must be made on a per seed, locule, or boll basis.The .Zellweger-Uster (Knoxvilk, TN) AHS-P&M is an airflow, etectro-opticai particle sizer that rapidly and reproducibly quantifies fiber circularity (0 or degree of fiber wall thickening) and cross-sectional area by number A(n) by analyzing the light scattered at a 40° angle 1 Trade names are necessary to report factually on available data. The USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of th...

Cotton yield and fiber quality affected by row spacing and shading at different growth stages

“…At low temperatures, the activity of sucrose synthase decreases, thus decreasing carbohydrate transport from the leaves to fruits and limiting cellulose deposition for fiber thickening (Shu et al, 2009). The micronaire is a dependent and indirect measurement of fiber perimeter (fineness) and secondary wall thickness (maturity) (Bradow et al, 1996). Hence, higher micronaire was observed when shading was imposed at B1 in Chapadão do Céu likely due to higher fiber maturity ( Table 6).…”

Producing Quality Cotton by Conventional Breeding, Marker Assisted Selection, and Transgenic Methods

“…This finding is similar to that for the measures of length distribution and suggests that breeding efforts to ameliorate short fiber would be fruitful, albeit slow due to low heritability. A limitation of estimating short fiber content for breeders is that a key source of short fibers results from fiber breakage during lint cleaning (Bradow et al, 1996). Commercial ginning involves one or more lint cleaners that are employed to achieve a certain grade of cotton for marketing purposes.…”

“…The limitations of breeder fiber samples to evaluate short fiber content have been discussed (Meredith, Sasser, and Rayburn, 1992). Immature fiber is that with incomplete secondary wall thickening in response to environmental conditions and the genotype (Bradow et al, 1996). These fibers do not take dye uniformly, and thus contribute to dye variation in textiles.…”

Preliminary Study of Linear Density, Tenacity, and Crystallinity of Cotton Fibers

“…Compositional and structural differences between these fibers, as well as their physical properties and end-use qualities, have been investigated considerably over the years by diversified and comprehensive techniques. Such methods include wet chemistry, microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), molecular spectroscopy and well-defined fiber testing in the cotton industry [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. As an example, attenuated total reflection (ATR) sampling device based Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has evolved as an important and successful analytical tool to investigate the plant fiber growth-induced changes in compositions and structures.…”