Temperature effects on cotton yield and fibre properties of three cotton cultivars were determined. Plants were grown in pots maintained in growth rooms at varying day and night temperatures representing seasonally constant or varying (C) or daily varying (V) regimes.

Yield and fibre characters responded to variation of daily mean and amplitude of temperature. Mean temperature reduction improved yield components, but fibre length, uniformity, strength and micronaire were increased by high, particularly high day, temperatures. A large daily temperature amplitude produced an intermediate number of flowers and the lowest retention percentage.

Fruiting and yield were increased by reduction in temperature down to the threshold mean temperature of 22°C. However, V-regimes with a low minimum temperature acted as a further drop (below 22°C) of temperature and adversely affected these characters. An adverse effect of low minimum temperature combined with a moderate day temperature was observed also on lint percentage and fibre properties.

Varietal differences were more pronounced for highly heritable characters such as fibre properties, for which significant interactions between varieties and temperature also occurred. Differences in reproductive development were not sufficient to be of much practical importance.