Heterosis for seed cotton yield and its contributing traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

摘要

The present study was undertaken to estimate economic heterosis of newly developed cotton hybrids with the objective of exploring possibilities of their commercial utilization. For this purpose, 52 upland cotton hybrids were developed crossing 13 lines with four testers in a line x tester mating design during kharif, 2009. These hybrids along with their 17 parents (13 males and 4 females) and one standard check (HHH 223) were evaluated during kharif, 2010. The experimental material was grown at Cotton Research Station, Sirsa, during kharif, 2010 in a randomized block design with three replications. Considerable amount of heterosis was recorded for seed cotton yield and other related characters. Twenty five hybrids exhibited heterosis of more than 20 per cent for seed cotton yield/plant. Highest economic heterosis for seed cotton yield was observed in the hybrid H1226 x HS 1 to the tune of 68.98 per cent. Five other crosses which exhibited heterosis of more than 45 per cent were H1098 x DELTA SL (66.11%), HS182 x MC 82 (57.31%), H1226 x F 1378(47.76%), H1098 x DELCOT 517(47.56%) and H1226 x RS 875(45.16%). All the crosses which showed high heterosis for yield invariably showed high positive heterosis either for number of bolls and boll weight. The hybrids H1226 x HS 1 and H1098 x DELTA SL exhibited heterosis of more than 65 per cent and hence warrant their further testing over locations for commercial utilization.