Raman spectroscopic assessment of fibers and seeds of six cotton genotypes

Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a vibrational spectroscopy. This work reported the RS spectral characteristics of fiber and seed of six cotton (Gossypium sp.) genotypes differing in fiber length. While the RS spectra of fiber samples were dominated by the cellulose-related peaks, the spectra of cottonseed samples were featured by the bands related to oil, protein, carbohydrate, and lignin components. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two principal components (PCs) accounted for >87% of the total variation of the two types of samples. The PC1 versus PC2 plot classified the six fiber samples into three groups, but their cottonseeds into four groups. This experimental evidence implied the possibility of RS combined with PCA for rapid fiber phenotyping of cotton as well as for evaluating cottonseed nutrient information.