Sixteen parents and 28 F1 (14×2) genetic male sterility based cross combinations were evaluated in a line x tester mating design in Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum). The statistical analysis was performed using the method developed by Kempthorne (1957) with the help of an OPSTAT computer program (developed by CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar). Sufficient variability among hybrids and their parents was found as the mean squares of genotypes for all the traits including fibre quality investigated were significant. The total genetic variability was partitioned to general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA). The variance due to GCA was higher than SCA for fibre strength (g/tex) only. For other traits viz., seed cotton yield, plant height (cm), bolls per plant, boll weight (g), 2.5 % span length and micronaire value, the SCA was higher which reflects the role of both additive and non-additive types of gene action (dominant or epistatic). In the present study, additive variances were significant for a 2.5% span length, fineness and fibre strength and non-additive as well as additive gene effects for seed cotton yield, plant height, boll number, boll weight and ginning percentage. GCA was significant for male parents, G-27, DLSA-17, DLSA-8, PA-496, LD-713, LD-853 and LD-733 for seed cotton yield; G-27, DLSA-17, DLSA-8, PA-255, PA-304, PA-405, PA-496 and LD-713 for plant height; G-27, DLSA-202, PAIG-8/1, PA-464 and PA-496 for bolls per plant; G-27, DLSA-202, PAIG-8/1, PA-464 and PA-496 for boll weight; DLSA-202, DLSA-17, PAIG-8/1, PA-405, PA-464, LD-733 for ginning out turn (GOT%); DLSA-202, DLSA-17, DLSA-8, PA-255, PA-464, PA-496, LD-713 and LD-733 for 2.5% span length (mm); DLSA-17, DLSA-8, PA-255, PA-464, PA-496 and LD-713 for lower micronaire value having fineness and DLSA-17, PAIG-8/1, DLSA-8, PA-255, PA-304, PA-496 and LD-713 for fibre strength (g/tex) which were considered as good general combiners. Similarly among 28 cross combinations, SCA was positively significant for 9 crosses for seed cotton yield, 11 crosses for plant height, 7 crosses for boll number, 10 crosses for boll wt, 9 crosses for GOT(%), 15 crosses for 2.5% span length, 8 crosses for micronaire and 8 crosses for fibre strength.