We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Gardening

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Bolls?

By Emma G.
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 12,040
Share

Bolls are the part of a plant that hold and protect the seed. They are most commonly found on cotton and flax plants. Bolls can be damaged by bugs or rot, making the plant unable to reproduce or unsuitable for harvest.

The word "boll" comes from the Dutch word bolle, which means "round object." Bolls generally are round or mostly round with a taper at one end. They usually are firm to the touch and are similar in color to the rest of the plant.

The purpose of bolls is to protect seeds until the plant is ready to reproduce. In addition to seeds, bolls often house soft fibers. It is these fibers that are harvested from cotton and flax plants to make fabric. This is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.

Like all farmers, farmers who grow cotton and flax want to keep their plants as healthy as possible. Two major threats face every farmer of cotton and flax: bugs and rot. Both can affect the bolls of plants if proper precautions are not taken.

The boll weevil is a small beetle that can range in color from yellow to black. These bugs pose a double threat to plants. Adult boll weevils eat cotton seedlings and flower buds, and female boll weevils lay their eggs in the bases of cotton bolls. A single egg is laid in each boll. When the egg hatches, the larvae stay in the boll for a week or two, eating it from the inside out.

Cotton plants that have been infested by boll weevils produce little to no usable cotton fiber. Boll weevil infestations can be controlled using pesticides. Scientists have studied the possibility of breeding cotton plants that are genetically resistant to boll weevils.

The other major threat to healthy bolls is rot. Cotton bolls can rot if there is too much moisture in the soil. Excess moisture can be caused by too much rainfall, over irrigation and overgrowth. When plants are too close together, they create thick canopies that keep moisture from escaping. This can happen when too much nitrogen is added to the soil.

The best way to prevent boll rot is to plan plantings well. Leaving plenty of space between plants and staying within recommended nitrogen fertilizer guidelines allows moisture to evaporate. Fungicides also help keep bolls from rotting, but studies have shown that their use is not a cost-effective method of preventing boll rot.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-are-bolls.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.