VARIATION, HERITABILITY AND ASSOCIATION OF YIELD, FIBER AND MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN A NEAR LONG STAPLE UPLAND COTTON POPULATION

摘要

Development of near long staple (NLS) cotton germplasm represents a remarkable improvement in fiber properties ofupland genotypes without compromising yield potential. This study aimed to evaluate a NLS population for variability inyield, fiber and morphological traits, investigate heritability and genetic advance of these traits, and analyze theinterrelationships among them. The NLS lines exhibited large variation for lint yield per hectare and bolls per plant, whilelittle variation for fiber properties. The highest genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficient of variation wererecorded by lint yield per hectare (25.10%, 23.00%) followed by bolls per plant (18.88%, 16.38%). High heritability alongwith high response to selection was documented in plant height, bolls per plant and lint yield per hectare indicating that theadditive gene function model in the inheritance of these traits and direct selection can be profitably applied on them.Favourable associations were found among fiber length, strength and fineness in this population. It is concluded that there isa great potential in the NSL population for further enhancing yield while maintaining high fiber quality.