Laboratory and field tests were conducted to determine the chemical
composition and to investigate the effect of storage period and type on the seeds of
three extra long staple and three other long staple varieties of Egyptian cotton
Gossypium barbadense L. Random seed samples from the tested varieties were
exposed to storage under room temperature and under deep freezing (-20°C)
conditions for two years. The stored samples were subjected to chemical composition
analysis and to vigor testing including the determination of free fatty acids and
accelerated aging to each storage period, as well as the field emergence. Generally,
there was great deal of variability between seed classes, varieties, type and period of
storage. This variability may not be unexpected since the breeding of this crop
focuses on the lint quality more than any other aspect. These were significant differences between storage periods as fresh production
performed better in the free fatty acids percentage and generally in the vigor testing
values. Under the deep freezing storage conditions, seeds require drying to the safe
limits before cold storage in addition to the separation of the mechanically damaged
seed. Hence, these precautions affect the performance under these conditions.