Heterosis studies for seed cotton yield and yield contributing traits in desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) over the environments

Abstract

Fifty six hybrid combinations developed by crossing 7 lines and 8 testers were tested along with their parents including 4 checks in Line X Tester design for seed cotton yield and yield contributing characters during kharif, 2016 at three locations viz., Cotton Research Station, Nanded (L-1), Experimental farm of Department of Agricultural Botany, VNMKV, Parbhani (L-2) and Experimental farm, Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur (L-3). The magnitude of heterosis was estimated in relation to better parent and standard checks. The magnitude of heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for all the characters in the present study was highly appreciable. Out of fifty six crosses, the crosses showed highest and desirable significant standard heterosis for various traits viz., cross PA 801 x AKA 8 for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to 50 per cent boll bursting and days to maturity; PA 809 x CNA 449 for plant height ; PAIG 346 x DWDa 1402 for number of sympodia per plant ; PAIG 346 x DWDa 1402 for number of bolls per plant; PA 740 x DIgvijay for boll weight; PAIG 346 x JLA 797 for seed cotton yield per plant and seed index; PA 812 x HD 514 for lint index and PA 809 x AKA 8 for harvest index over standard check PKVDH 1,PKV Suvarna, NACH 12 and PA 255, respectively. The crosses PAIG 346 X JLA 794, PAIG 346 X DWDa 1402, PA 809 X AKA 8, PA 785 X CNA 449, PAIG 346 X CNA 449 and PAIG 346 X HD 514 hold promise for further evaluation and commercial exploitation of heterosis for seed cotton yield and yield contributing traits.