Motes are cotton (Gossypium spp.) ovules that fail to ripen into mature seeds. These aborted ovules represent a loss in yield and can cause imperfections in yarn and cloth quality. The present study was conducted to determine whether 10 widely grown cotton cultivars differ in some boll characters that are undesirable for the textile industry. The bolls at the first positions of fruiting branches formed at 1st (bottom), 6th (middle) and 11th (top) nodes of the main stem were compared in 10 varieties in 2 years for the number of motes and their weights, mote production frequency, and long fibre mote frequency within a boll.

Mote frequencies and mote weights were affected by varieties and years. Moreover, mote frequencies were higher at the bottom and middle plant positions compared with the top position.

Fibre length for long fibre motes ranged from 18 to 21 mm. In both years, cultivars Deltaopal, Sayar 314 and Suregrow 125 had consistently lower mote and long fibre mote frequencies. Thus, these cultivars could be useful in breeding programmes to improve seed-set. Cotton breeders also need to consider long fibre motes in plant improvement studies.