Which of the following is NOT a stage of cotton plant growth?

The growth stages of a cotton plant include critical phases that are essential for its development, and in this context, harvesting is not recognized as a growth stage. Germination refers to the process where seeds absorb water and begin to sprout, which is foundational for the plant's life cycle. The vegetative stage is characterized by the development of leaves and stems as the plant grows, contributing to its overall structure and health. Maturation, while not commonly used as a specific stage in agronomy, can be understood as the phase where the plant prepares for reproduction, ultimately leading to flowering and boll formation.

In contrast, harvesting occurs after the plant has completed its growth stages. It is the process of collecting mature cotton bolls for processing, representing a culmination of the growth cycle rather than a developmental phase. Therefore, it is accurate to identify harvesting as not being a formal stage in the growth process of the cotton plant.