Premature senescence, unopened and rotted bolls are the primary constrictions hampering the accomplishment of yield potential in Bt cotton. An experiment was conducted with the objectives to delay senescence, enhance boll opening and reduce the boll rotting. The experiment was conducted at two randomly selected sites of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2015 and repeated in 2016. Each experiment was laid out in randomised complete block design with two by two factorial arrangement structure and replicated five times. Treatments were comprised of R0 = no fruit removal; R1 = removal of early fruit branches (REFB) and two genotypes, viz. V1 = FH‐142 and V2 = MNH‐886. Genotypes were selected on the basis of abiotic stress tolerance (FH‐142) and susceptibility (MNH‐886). Nodes above cracked bolls, monopodial branches, opened bolls per plant and seed cotton yield were enhanced by 23, 12, 13 and 17%, respectively, under the influence of REFB over no fruit branch removal, while the REFB‐mediated decrease in boll rotting was 27%. Moreover, the response of MNH‐886 was more remarkable than FH‐142 for all studied variables. Conclusively, REFB increased the number of nodes above a cracked boll, monopodial branches, opened bolls per plant and seed cotton yield while decreased rotted bolls per plant in both genotypes. Bad boll opening owing to early senescence and rotted bolls are chief hindrances to accomplish yield potential in cotton. The present study was aimed to delay the senescence and thus enhance the number of opened bolls and decrease the number of rotted bolls in cotton genotypes using removal of early fruit branches (REFB) as potential regulator of boll opening. Removal of two early fruit branches enhanced number of opened bolls, decreased rotted bolls, delayed the senescence and ultimately improved seed cotton yield in varying cotton genotypes compared to control.