Capillary electrophoresis to quantitate gossypol enantiomers in cotton flower petals and seed.

Gossypol is a toxic compound that occurs as a mixture of enantiomers in cotton plant tissues including seed and flower petals. The (-)-enantiomer is more toxic to non-ruminant animals. Efforts to breed cottonseed with a low percentage of (-)-gossypol requires determination of the (+)- to (-)-gossypol ratio in seed and flower petals.