Identifying of Extra Long Staple Suitable Lines (<i>Gossypium barbadense</i> L.) with Improved Fiber Qualities to Release New Lines As an Alternative for Suvin Variety of Barbadense

Abstract

There is a steep rise in production of long staple cotton, while production of extra long staple, short staple and even medium staple cotton has come down drastically. Because of this, India is importing extra long staple cotton by causing heavy birth on exchequer and there is a need of improving performance of interspecific hybrids. This is possible through genetic improvement of barbadense lines. The elite barbadense combiners namely DB 533 and DB 534 were indentified for creation and exploitation of recombinational variability for combining ability. In 2007-2008 this cross was made and early segregating generations were raised during 2008-2009/2009-2010, out of 171 F 3 lines 53 were identified based on productivity and fiber quality and advanced to succeeding generations. The F3 lines were evaluated for productivity and fiber quality parameters realizing the emphasis laid on developing ELS (Extra Long Stable) cotton hybrids out of 171 F 3 lines, only 53 F 3 lines with acceptable fiber strength were utilized in this study. The barbadense population of F4 lines was selfed and material was advanced to F 5 generation during the same year. This study also focused attention on determining whether these barbadense lines can straight away be utilized as varieties for producing ELS cottons. Hence, 53 F 5 barbadense lines were evaluated for productivity traits and fiber quality traits and compared with Suvin known to be standard barbadense variety in international market. The potential barbadense line DB 533 x DB 534 F5 IPS 18 showed superiority over Suvin line for seed cotton yield, mean boll weight, seed index, ginning outturn, lint index, fiber micronaire value, fiber strength and S/L ratio and can be used for developing separate trait based populations with other barbadense lines for yield components and fiber quality. Confirmation of their superiority will enable release of these new lines as an alternative for Suvin variety of barbadense.