STUDY OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL APTITUDE OF FIBERS FROM NEW VARIETIES OF COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.) IN CAMEROON

In the Sudanese–Sahelian zone of Cameroon, cotton farming is a major driver of rural agricultural development and plays a key role in poverty alleviation. However, numerous environmental, technical, and economic constraints underscore the need for cotton varieties with high yield potential, strong resilience, good local adaptability, superior fiber quality, and above all, better compliance with international technological standards. This study aimed to evaluate the technological performance of four new cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber varieties (L2026, L2033, L2146 and L2168) under the agro-climatic conditions of the Sudanian–Sahelian zone of Cameroon. These genotypes were compared to two reference varieties, IRMA Q302 and IRMA A2249. Field experiments were conducted during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons at the, Maroua and Garoua sites. The varieties L2026, L2030, L2033 and L2146 were tested using a Fisher block design with six repetitions. The harvested cotton was ginned using a continental-type 20-saw gin and Technological properties of the fibers were measured using a USTER HVI 1000 system, focusing on upper-half mean length (UHML), uniformity index, strength, elongation, maturity, fineness, micronaire and color parameters (Rd and +b). The results show that all four varieties meet or exceed the minimum standards for African cotton quality. However, the technological properties of the fiber vary significantly between varieties but do not vary according to growing regions or years. New variety L2168 stands out for its fiber length (29.3 mm) and regular uniformity (85.2%), while L2146 has short fibers (25.4 mm) but the finest quality (115.5 mtex). L2033 and the control Q302 have the strongest fibers, thus very resistant (31.5 and 31.2 g/tex), and L2026, L2033, and L2146 show the best reflectance (75.8 to 76.7%). For intermediate values and other characteristics, the varieties are similar. Adaptability of these varieties are observed in both growing regions, except for L2146, which remains limited by its short fiber length and provided that the recommended agronomic and post-harvest practices are followed. The greatest variations are due to the influence of agroecological conditions on the characteristics of the fibers. These findings highlight the potential of these varieties to improve the competitiveness of Cameroonian cotton fiber on international markets, while emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring of technological parameters and appropriate seed management. It is nonetheless recommended to confirm these results under real conditions in farming environments through multifocal trials, while further studying the technological characteristics of the seeds.