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PubMed1987

The health investigation of cotton textile workers in Beijing.

This study reports findings from a survey of byssinosis among 289 cotton workers in certain cotton textile mills in Beijing. Incidence of byssinosis was 4.2% (12 cases). It decreased with a lower concentration of cotton dust and increased with yearly increment of cotton dust exposure. An elevation in body temperature over 37 degrees C was present among 14.2% of the workers on the first working day after rest. Acute lung function decrement was related to high dust concentration in the rooms. The higher the dust concentration in the rooms, the more evident was the chronic lung function decrement. Chronic bronchitis in cotton workers was higher than in controls. Incidence of byssinosis in smoking cotton workers was higher than in nonsmoking cotton workers.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1992

Respiratory disorders and atopy in cotton, wool, and other textile mill workers in Denmark.

A cross-sectional study of respiratory disorders and atopy in Danish textile industry workers was conducted to survey respiratory symptoms throughout the textile industry, to estimate the association of these disorders with atopy, and to study dose-response relationships within the cotton industry. Workers at cotton mills, a wool mill, and a man-made fiber (MMF) mill were examined. Four hundred nine (90%) of the 445 workers participated in this survey, i.e., 253, 62, and 94 workers at the cotton mills, the wool mill, and the MMF mill, respectively. An interview designed to assess the prevalence of common respiratory and allergic symptoms was given to all workers willing to participate, and blood samples were drawn. Lung function measurements determined a baseline FEV1, FVC and the change in FEV1 and FVC during work hours on a Monday. The working environment was examined for dust, bacteria, endotoxins, and molds, and the exposure was estimated for each participant. The mean personal samples of airborne respirable dust and respirable endotoxin were highest in the cotton industry, i.e., 0.17-0.50 mg/m3 and 9.0-126 ng/m3 respectively, whereas mold spores were found in the highest concentrations in the wool mill: 280-791 colony-forming units (cfu)/m3. Only small concentrations of microorganisms were found in the MMF mill. The mean change in FEV1% and FVC% was greatest among atopic individuals in both cotton and wool industry and other textile industries although the differences were not significant. FEV1% and FVC% in the cotton workers were significantly associated with the cumulative exposure to respirable endotoxin. Byssinosis was diagnosed only in the cotton industry. We found a dose-response relationship between endotoxin exposure and byssinosis, and a significant association between A-1-A serum concentrations less than or equal to 35 mumol/liter and byssinosis, a finding we are further evaluating in subsequent studies.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Respiratory disease in cotton textile workers: epidemiologic assessment of small airway function.

We performed a cross-sectional study of 705 textile workers in two cotton mills and one silk mill in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, to assess small airway function among cotton textile workers and to compare the FEV1 to the FEF25-75 in detecting airflow obstruction in these workers. All workers had at least 2 years of work experience. Environmental sampling was performed with vertical elutriators and revealed that in the cotton mills mean elutriated dust levels were 1.07 +/- 0.23 mg/m3 in mill 1 and 1.01 mg/m3 +/- 0.24 mg/m3 in mill 2. Mean endotoxin levels were 332 +/- 83 ng/m3 in mill 1 and 101 +/- 46 ng/m3 in mill 2. No differences were found in preshift FEV1 or FEF25-75 between cotton and silk workers. Cotton workers had significantly greater declines than silk workers in FEV1 across a workshift, but not in FEF25-75. These acute changes in FEV1 were noted in both byssinotic and nonbyssinotic workers. Although cotton dust may affect both large and small airways, spirometric measures of small airway function (e.g., FEF25-75) add little to the FEV1 and FVC in detecting airflow limitation in cotton dust-exposed workers.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Two isoforms of Rubisco activase in cotton, the products of separate genes not alternative splicing.

In several plant species, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activase consists of two isoforms that are produced by alternative splicing of a pre-mRNA. Two forms of activase corresponding to the longer, redox-regulated alpha and the shorter, beta forms were detected immunologically in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaves, but their N-termini differed in 4 of 14 residues. The cDNAs for the alpha and beta forms of cotton activase diverged throughout the translated and 3'-untranslated regions, including variations that accounted for the differences in N-terminal amino acid sequence. Analysis of genomic DNA confirmed that separate genes encoded the alpha and beta forms of cotton activase. Separate activase genes were also detected in diploid species of cotton containing the different progenitor genomes of the cultivated allotetraploid, indicating that the occurrence of separate alpha- and beta-form genes in cotton predates the merger of the diploid genomes. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two forms of cotton activase exhibited 84% identity and both forms were active after expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant alpha and beta forms exhibited similar affinities for ATP and only minor differences in thermotolerance, but their ATPase specific activities differed. The results show for the first time a plant species with two forms of activase that are structurally and functionally equivalent to the alternatively spliced alpha and beta forms in other plants, but that are encoded by separate genes. That cotton still expresses both forms of activase, even without alternative splicing, suggests that each form has a required function in photosynthesis.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed2005

Functional analysis of the BIN 2 genes of cotton.

Brassinosteroids (BR) promote the elongation of cotton fibers and may be a factor in determining their final length. To begin to understand the role of BR-mediated responses in the development of cotton fibers we have characterized the BIN 2 genes of cotton. BIN 2 is a member of the shaggy-like protein kinase family that has been identified as a negative regulator of BR signaling in Arabidopsis. Sequence analyses indicate that the tetraploid cotton genome includes four genes with strong sequence similarity to BIN 2. These genes fall into two distinct subclasses based on sequence and expression patterns. Sequence comparisons with corresponding genes from cotton species that have the diploid A and D genomes, respectively, shows that each pair of genes comprises homeologs derived from the A and D sub-genomes. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants that express these cotton BIN 2 cDNAs show reduced growth and similar phenotypes to the semi-dominant bin 2 mutant plants. These results indicate that the cotton BIN 2 genes encode functional BIN 2 isoforms that can inhibit BR signaling. Further analyses of the function of BIN 2 genes and their possible roles in determining fiber yield and quality are underway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Chronic pulmonary effects in guinea pigs from prolonged inhalation of cotton dust.

Inhalation of cotton dust has been associated with development of byssinosis. An animal model has been described recently in which guinea pigs exposed to cotton dust for a 6-week period demonstrated acute respiratory reactions consisting of increased breathing frequency, reduced tidal volume, and airflow fluctuations most prominent on the first day of exposure following a period without exposure, often referred to as a "Monday" response (Ellakkani et al., 1984). The current study examined the effects of cotton dust inhalation for 52 weeks in order to evaluate the animal model for ability to demonstrate more chronic effects of cotton dust exposure. Twenty guinea pigs were exposed to 21 mg/m3 cotton dust for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 52 weeks. Twenty control animals received sham exposure. Parameters used to indicate chronic effects included respiratory measurements, weight gain, lung volume and weight, and histopathological evaluation. Respiratory measurements were taken while animals were breathing ambient air and also while breathing a mixture of 10% CO2, 20% O2, and 70% N2. Pulmonary effects were noted to change during the 12 months of exposure. For the first 3 months experimental animals displayed an increase in breathing frequency and a decrease in breathing volume measured as whole-body plethysmographic pressure. These effects were pronounced on the "Monday" of each week. During Months 3-6, reactions occurred on each day of exposure, although Monday responses were most severe. After 6 months, respiratory reactions were pronounced daily. Other indications of a chronic effect of exposure were increased lung volume, measured by water displacement, 15.0 +/- 3.3 ml (mean +/- SD) for the exposed group, compared with 9.8 +/- 2.0 ml for the controls; increased lung weight 9.4 +/- 1.5 g vs 7.0 +/- 0.8 g; and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia and hyperplasia of alveolar type II cells. Additionally, a histomorphometric study of the lungs performed by others (Coulombe et al., 1986) detected changes in the peripheral conducting airways, including increased thickness of bronchiolar epithelium and increased thickness of septa at the alveolar level, denoting chronic exposure. Taken together, these results indicated chronic respiratory effects in guinea pigs as a result of 52 weeks of continued exposure to cotton dust. The parallel in development of symptoms in guinea pigs and in humans exposed to cotton dust indicates that the guinea pig is a suitable model for byssinosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

The use of cotton balls to collect infant urine samples for 2H/1H and 18O/16O isotope ratio measurements.

To test the validity of cotton balls as a urine collection medium for hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratio measurements, we moistened cotton balls with 1-, 5-, and 10-mL aliquots of urine that contained either natural abundances or one of two enriched levels of 2H and 18O. The liquids were then expressed from the cotton balls, either at once, or after 30 or 60 min of atmospheric exposure, and analyzed for their 2H/1H and 18O/16O isotope ratios. The 2H abundances of the fluids expressed from the cotton balls were significantly lower than the original values. This dilution of 2H, however, diminished in the samples that had a greater volume of urine. We observed no effects of volume or time on 18O. Our results indicate that at low urine volumes, ambient moisture dilutes 2H in the cotton balls, but isotope exchanges and evaporation have little or no effect on the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic abundances of the urine samples. Total body water and energy expenditure values calculated from the 2H and 18O enrichments of 5- and 10-mL urine samples were within 1% of the theoretical values. Therefore, cotton balls are suitable for collection of infant urine samples for hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratio measurements, if the volume of urine that can be expressed from a cotton ball is > or = 5 mL.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Removal of added nitrate in cotton burr compost, mulch compost, and peat: mechanisms and potential use for groundwater nitrate remediation.

We conducted batch tests on the nature of removal of added nitrate in cotton burr compost, mulch compost, and sphagnum peat that may be potentially used in a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for groundwater nitrate remediation. A rigorous steam autoclaving protocol (121 degrees C for 2h each day for three consecutive days) for the cotton burr compost and autoclaving of all labware and the nitrate working solutions resulted in drastically different results compared to the non-autoclaved treatment. In the non-autoclaved cotton burr compost, added nitrate at 20 mg N l(-1) decreased rapidly and was not detected after 3d; whereas, the autoclaved cotton burr compost showed persistent nitrate above 15.5 mg N l(-1) even after 10d, which is comparable with nitrate concentrations above 17.6 mg N l(-1) in a treatment using NaN(3) at 1000 mg l(-1). Dewaxed cotton burr compost showed decreased nitrate reduction compared to the pristine cotton burr compost. No nitrate reduction was detected in the dewaxed sphagnum peat. It is concluded that nitrate removal in the organic media is controlled by microbiologically mediated processes. The use of readily available cotton burr and mulch composts may offer a cost-effective method of nitrate removal from contaminated groundwater.

Gossypium↗

PubMed2000

Midgut-based resistance of Heliothis virescens to baculovirus infection mediated by phytochemicals in cotton.

The decrease in susceptibility to polyhedrosis disease when Heliothis virescens larvae feed on cotton is profound, limiting the utility of baculoviruses for controlling noctuids on this important crop. We observed that the mortalities of H. virescens larvae challenged with a reporter-gene construct of Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV-hsp70/lacZ) and fed either lettuce or artificial diet were approximately 2.5-fold higher than that of cotton-fed insects. This decrease in susceptibility on cotton was observed following oral but not intrahemocoelic inoculation of virus, and it was negatively correlated with levels of foliar peroxidase. The rates of development of both infected and uninfected larvae also were correlated negatively with levels of foliar peroxidase, and hence, were significantly lower for insects fed cotton. When Calcofluor White M2R, an optical brightener reported to enhance the retention of AcMNPV-infected midgut cells, was included in inoculum administered orally to larvae, mortality levels were equivalent regardless of diet. These results suggest that sloughing of infected midgut cells occurred at a higher rate in insects that fed on cotton compared to the other two diets, and that midgut cell sloughing is the mechanism whereby susceptibility to mortal infection by AcMNPV-hsp70/lacZ is decreased on cotton. This conclusion is consistent with previous reports that ingestion of cotton can generate reactive oxygen species within the midgut lumen that may damage midgut epithelial cells. As far as we know, this is the first study to link resistance intrinsic to the physiology of the insect (e.g., developmental resistance) and resistance conferred by host plant chemistry to a single mechanism, i.e., midgut cell sloughing.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

Identification of a cotton fiber-specific acyl carrier protein cDNA by differential display.

Transcripts from immature fibers and stripped ovules (fibers removed) of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were compared by differential display to identify cDNA fragments that represent mRNAs that are expressed primarily in cotton fibers. Eight independent fiber-specific cDNA fragments were isolated. One of these cDNAs had strong sequence similarity with acyl carrier protein (ACP). A full-length cDNA for the cotton fiber-specific ACP was isolated using a PCR cDNA library screening technique. This 713 bp cDNA has an open reading frame that encodes a 136 amino acid polypeptide. Overall nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities with other plant ACP gene sequences averaged 66% and 60% respectively. A 19 amino acid sequence surrounding the prosthetic group attachment site is nearly identical to other plant ACP genes. Northern blot analyses showed that transcripts homologous to this fiber-specific ACP cDNA were predominantly expressed during the elongation stage of fiber development. Initial genomic Southern blot analysis indicated that a single copy of the fiber-specific ACP gene may be present in both the cotton A and D genomes, since diploid Gossypium species with A or D genomes gave identical bands. We speculate that this putative fiber-specific ACP may play an important role in rapidly elongating cotton fibers by contributing to the synthesis of membrane lipids. It is also apparent that during the evolution of cotton a member of the ACP gene family has been recruited for specific expression in cotton fibers.

Acyl Carrier Protein↗

PubMed2001

Use of salivary biomarkers in biobehavioral research: cotton-based sample collection methods can interfere with salivary immunoassay results.

In a series of studies, we evaluated the susceptibility of immunoassays for saliva biomarkers to interference effects caused by cotton materials used to absorb saliva during sample collection. Salivary assay results for testosterone, DHEA, progesterone, and estradiol are artificially high, and for sIgA artificially low, when samples are collected using cotton absorbent materials. In contrast, results for salivary cortisol, DHEA-S, and cotinine are not affected by the use of cotton collection methods. The order of individual results from samples collected using cotton versus no-cotton methods for certain markers is not conserved, suggesting that for some biomarkers this collection method can be a significant source of unsystematic error. It was shown, using DHEA as an example, that the cotton interference effect is of sufficient magnitude to attenuate the association between serum and saliva levels. Awareness of this issue is critical to ensure measurement validity in future studies and analyses of archived samples collected using cotton materials.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Macromolecular organization and genetic mapping of a rapidly evolving chromosome-specific tandem repeat family (B77) in cotton (Gossypium).

Isolation and characterization of the most prominent repetitive element families in the genome of tetraploid cotton (Gossypium barbadense L; [39]) revealed a small subset of families that showed very different properties in tetraploids than in their diploid progenitors, separated by 1-2 million years. One element, B77, was characterized in detail, and compared to the well-conserved 5S and 45S rRNA genes. The 572 bp B77 repeat was found to be concentrated in several discontinuous tandem arrays confined to a single 550 kb SalI fragment in tetraploid cotton. Genetic mapping based on the absence of the pentameric 'rung' in the G. barbadense 'ladder' showed that B77 maps to a D-subgenome chromosome. In situ hybridization supports the contention that the array is confined largely to a single chromosomal site in the D-subgenome. The B77 repeat has undergone a substantial increase in copy number since formation of tetraploid cotton from its diploid relatives. RFLPs observed among tetraploid cotton species suggest that amplification and/or rearrangement of the repeat may have continued after divergence of the five tetraploid cotton species. B77 contains many short direct repeats and shares significant DNA sequence homology with a Nicotiana alata retrotransposon Tna1-2 integrase motif. The recent amplification of B77 on linkage group D04 suggests that the D-subgenome of tetraploid cotton may be subject to different evolutionary constraints than the D-genome diploid chromosomes, which exhibit few genome-specific elements. Further, the abundance of B77 in G. gossypioides supports independent evidence that it may be the closest extant relative of the D-genome ancestor of cotton.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Long cotton wool rolls as compression enhancers in macrosclerotherapy for varicose veins.

BACKGROUND: Macrosclerotherapy in combination with compression has proven to be safe and effective in the treatment of varicose veins. Local compression is increased by pads, according to Laplace law. Firm rolls of cotton wool are fixed over the course of the entire vein to increase local compression and to reduce complications. Additional compression is given by a combination of a class I (daytime and nighttime) and class II (daytime only) medical compression hosiery. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of sclerocompression therapy with cotton wool rolls in combination with medical compression hosiery. METHOD: Prospective study with 100 patients (120 legs) with primary varicose veins, which are treated with polidocanol as sclerosant with the empty vein technique. Immediately after the injection, a long cotton wool roll is placed over the entire vein and fixed. Additional compression is obtained with class I and class II medical compression hosiery. The interface pressure on the skin, just under the cotton wool roll, is measured on 12 legs with the aid of an interface pressure measuring instrument (Oxford Pressure Monitor). RESULTS: Good sclerosing results are obtained in all patients. Side effects are classified as early and late. In 16 patients, minor side effects which needed no treatment are observed. In only 3 cases (2.5%), intravascular blood clots (2) and phlebitis (1) needed incision and expression. The mean interface pressure of all measuring sensors under the cotton wool roll is 84 mm/Hg (68 to 122 mm/Hg). CONCLUSION: This study proves the high effectiveness of a cotton wool roll compression right at the place of treatment. By using these long cotton wool compression rolls, the compression part of sclerocompression therapy becomes more effective and much easier to perform.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of cotton wool filtration of platelet concentrates obtained by automated and manual apheresis.

The effect of cotton wool filtration of apheresis platelet concentrates (PCs) on platelet viability and complement activation was evaluated by two laboratories. PCs were prepared by automated (Lab A, n = 5) or manual (Lab B, n = 5) apheresis. After storage for 1 day, the PC was filtered through cotton wool before transfusion on one occasion and, on the other occasion, filtered through a standard screen filter before transfusion to the same donor. Five paired studies were performed by each laboratory. Except for a small, but significant reduction in mean platelet size, from 7.3 +/- 1.1 to 6.6 +/- 0.9 microns 3, after cotton wool filtration, no effect of filtration on various tests of in vitro platelet function and morphologic integrity was found. As demonstrated by autologous radiolabeled studies, no effect of cotton wool filtration on platelet viability was found by Laboratory B, while Laboratory A found a slight increase in the percentage of recovery from 59 +/- 4 to 68 +/- 13 percent, and a small reduction in survival, from 8.2 +/- 0.9 to 7.7 +/- 0.5 days after cotton wool filtration (p less than 0.05). Cotton wool filtration was associated with a slight increase in C3a levels found in manual apheresis PCs. Neither laboratory found any effect of cotton wool filtration per se on the recipients' white cell (WBC) counts or C3a and C5a levels after transfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Hypergastrinaemia induced by partial corpectomy results in development of enterochromaffin-like cell carcinoma in male Japanese cotton rats.

BACKGROUND: Among inbred female cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) 25%-50% of the animals develop spontaneous gastric carcinomas, whereas males have an incidence of less than 1%. The carcinomas are enterochromaffin-like (ECL)-cell derived. Animals with gastric carcinomas also have hypergastrinaemia and gastric hypoacidity, but the mechanism behind the hypoacidity is unknown. Carcinomas have been found in all female cotton rats with spontaneous hypergastrinaemia lasting more than 4 months, and a gastrin receptor antagonist prevents the development of carcinoma. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether induced hypergastrinaemia in male cotton rats would also result in carcinomas. METHODS: Hypergastrinaemia was induced by partial corpectomy of male cotton rats, aiming at removal of 80%-90% of the corpus. A control group was sham-operated. RESULTS: All partially corpectomized animals developed persistent hypergastrinaemia. Six months after the operation, 9 out of 13 partially corpectomized animals developed gastric cancer. In the dysplastic mucosa surrounding the tumours there was an increase in chromogranin A immunoreactive cells, where numerous cells also were stained using the Sevier-Munger technique. Tumour tissue also contained cells that were chromogranin A positive and stained by Sevier-Munger. CONCLUSIONS: ECL-cell carcinomas can be induced in male cotton rats by partial corpectomy. This supports a previous statement that spontaneous carcinomas in female cotton rats are caused by gastric hypoacidity and hypergastrinaemia. In hypergastrinaemic animals, ECL-cell carcinomas develop independently of gender within a relatively short period of time, and cotton rats therefore represent an interesting model for studying gastric carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Evaluation of myelotoxicity in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) exposed to environmental contaminants. I. In vitro bone-marrow progenitor culture.

Bone marrow is extremely sensitive to toxicants, and in vitro culture of bone-marrow progenitor cells has been shown to be a sensitive indicator of bone-marrow injury in laboratory rodents. The ability of a bone-marrow progenitor cell assay to detect myelotoxicity in a wild rodent model (cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus) that inhabits many contaminated ecosystems in the southern United States was examined. Responsiveness of progenitor cells to recombinant murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and cotton rat lung-conditioned medium (LCM) was determined to optimize culture conditions for cotton rats. Myelotoxicity was induced in cotton rats by treating animals with either cyclophosphamide (8 or 80 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (500 microg/kg) over a 5-d period. Administration of a high dose of cyclophosphamide caused nearly total suppression of colony formation of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM). Marked histological changes in both the bone marrow and spleen were also observed in cotton rats treated with a high dose of cyclophosphamide. Although histological lesions were not apparent, the number of CFU-GM in the bone marrow of low-dose cyclophosphamide- and dexamethasone-treated cotton rats was significantly suppressed compared to controls. The number of CFU-GM was consistently higher using LCM than recombinant murine GM-CSF. This reproducible, quantitative, in vitro bone-marrow progenitor cell culture system was a sensitive indicator of myelotoxicity in wild cotton rats and should be useful for monitoring chronic exposures to low levels of environmental toxicants in wild rodent populations.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1986

The distribution of gram negative bacteria and endotoxin on raw cotton components.

The botanical composition of representative raw cottons from seven different growing regions was determined by manual removal and identification of all trash components greater than 50 micron in size. The number of gram negative bacteria (GNB) and the amount of endotoxin present in each of the separated raw cotton components were quantified. Low middling cotton contained significantly more bract-leaf trash than that found in higher quality cottons such as those in the middling grade division. Significantly more GNB and endotoxin were found in botanical trash components as well as lint of raw cotton derived from the southwest and southeast growing regions as compared to similar botanical components from far west cottons. For representative raw cottons from the 1980 USA crop we determined that 67% of the GNB and 89% of the endotoxin resided on white lint itself, from which all particulate larger than 50 micron in size had been removed manually.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Recovery from terminal and fruit damage by dry season cotton crops in tropical Australia.

We conducted a 2-yr field study on growth and yield compensation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) after artificial pest damage in Kununurra in NW Australia. The aim was to assess the responses of cotton grown in tropical Australia to simulated Helicoverpa damage early in the season (tip damage) and during fruiting (square removal). In this region, cotton is grown in an inverse temperature regimen to cotton grown in temperate regions, and it is possible that tropical cotton crops exhibit different responses to pest damage (Yeates 2001). To examine this, we imposed manual damage treatments by excising plant tips before squaring (flower bud production) and removing all large squares at 800 degree-days DD, (at base 12 degrees C; early square loss) or 1,200 DD (mid-square loss). We found high levels of tolerance in tropical cotton to simulated pest damage (particularly early square loss) equaling or possibly surpassing the compensatory response of cotton grown in temperate Australia. While yield did not differ between damage and control treatments, the trend suggests an increase in yield resulting from tip damage and early fruit loss. Compared with temperate crops, the delay in maturity caused by damage was minimal, owing to high rates of boll opening (up to 11% d(-1)). Early season tip damage resulted in a significant increase in lateral branch growth that later contributed to a higher fruiting potential. The altered canopy of tip-damaged plants also increased light interception, particularly in the upper canopy. Both of the above factors could confer a greater tolerance to subsequent fruit damage in tipped plants.

Animals↗