Effect of Reproductive Stage-Waterlogging on the Growth and Yield of Upland Cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i>)

The reproductive stage of cotton (<i>Gossypium</i> sp.) is highly sensitive to waterlogging. The identification of potential elite upland cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i>) cultivar(s) having higher waterlogging tolerance is crucial to expanding cotton cultivation in the low-lying areas. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of waterlogging on the reproductive development of four elite upland cotton cultivars, namely, Rupali-1, CB-12, CB-13, and DM-3, against four waterlogging durations (e.g., 0, 3, 6, and 9-day). Waterlogging stress significantly impacted morpho-physiological, biochemical, and yield attributes of cotton. Two cotton cultivars, e.g., CB-12 and Rupali-1, showed the lowest reduction in plant height (6 and 9%, respectively) and boll weight (8 and 5%, respectively) at the highest waterlogging duration of 9 days. Physiological and biochemical data revealed that higher leaf chlorophyll, proline, and relative water contents, and lower malondialdehyde contents, particularly in CB-12 and Rupali-1, were positively correlated with yield. Notably, CB-12 and Rupali-1 had higher seed cotton weight (90.34 and 83.10 g, respectively), lint weight (40.12 and 39.32 g, respectively), and seed weight (49.47 and 43.78 g, respectively) per plant than CB-13 and DM-3 in response to the highest duration of waterlogging of 9 days. Moreover, extensive multivariate analyses like Spearman correlation and the principle component analysis revealed that CB-12 and Rupali-1 had greater coefficients in yield and physiological attributes at 9-day waterlogging, whereas CB-13 and DM-3 were sensitive cultivars in response to the same levels of waterlogging. Thus, CB-12 and Rupali-1 might be well adapted to the low-lying waterlogging-prone areas for high and sustained yield.