Growth and biomass productivity
Plant growth (as defined by change in plant height) was measured weekly
following the emergence of seedlings. The experiment was terminated
shortly following the opening of bolls, with the date varying across
temperature treatments due to different growth rates. Harvests were
performed immediately at the end of the experiment, on 116, 123, 126 and
145 DAP for 32/26oC, 32/22oC,
28/22oC and 28/18oC temperature
regimes, respectively. The aboveground portion of the plant was
collected by excising the stem just above the soil level, and separated
into vegetative organs (leaves, stem and branches) and fruits (lint and
bract). Plant materials were oven-dried at 70oC for at
least 72 hours to constant mass before determining dry mass.