Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate the diallel analysis in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) by involving seven parents and their 42 cross combinations. All the characters were predominantly controlled by additive gene action except number of sympodial branches, single plant yield and bundle strength. Non additive gene action was controlled for the characters sympodial branches, single plant yield and bundle strength. The parent BW4-1 had superior per se performance for single plant yield, boll weight, lint index, number of bolls per plant, seed index, and micronaire followed by MCU 13 which had recorded high per se for single plant yield, lint index, seed index and number of sympodial branches. The parent TCH 1726 exhibited positive and significant gca effect for single plant yield, ginning percent, number of sympodial branches, boll weight and plant height. Based on high per se performance and high gca effect, the parent MCU 13 was considered as best general combiner as it had significantly greater values for single plant yield, number of sympodial branches, lint index and seed index. The hybrids KC 2 × TCH 1726 and TCH 1705 × MCU 3 had recorded high per se for single plant yield, number of bolls per plant and number of sympodial branches. Based on sca effects, KC 2 × TCH 1726 showed significant sca effects for single plant yield and number of sympodial branches. Key words: Cotton, Combining ability, gca, fibre quality traits, sca, single plant yield.
Highlights
Cotton is an important fiber, crop and plays a vital role as a cash crop in commerce of many countries
Based on high per se performance and high gca effect, the parent MCU 13 was considered as best general combiner as it had significantly greater values for single plant yield, number of sympodial branches, lint index and seed index
Based on the high per se performance and high gca effect, the parent MCU 13 was considered as best general combiner as it had significantly higher values for single plant yield, number of sympodial branches, lint index and seed index
Summary
Cotton is an important fiber, crop and plays a vital role as a cash crop in commerce of many countries. Cotton production, processing and trade in cotton goods provide employment to about 60 million people in India. It provides fibre for textile industry, cellulose from its lint, oil and protein rich meal from its seed (Ashokkumar and Ravikesavan, 2011). Diallel analysis provides a systematic approach for detection of appropriate parents and crosses in terms of investigated traits. Diallel analysis has been widely used by plant breeders in the selection of parents and crosses in the early generations (Marani, 1963; Green and Culp, 1990; Islam et al, 2001; Kiani et al, 2007; Karademir and Gencer, 2010). The analyses of diallel crosses contain further information on the nature of the predominant gene action in traits of major agronomic importance, besides estimates of general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA)
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