Heterosis studies for yield and fiber quality traits in intra hirsutum hybrids of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The present study was performed to evaluate the heterosis effects for seed cotton yield and fiber quality traits of 56 hybrids and their parents involving seven lines and eight testers along with a check at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad. The results showed that, range of relative heterosis varied from -3.40 to 13.29 in ginning percentage, -5.28 to 14.10 in 2.5% span length, -8.72 to 8.25 in uniformity ratio, -16.39 to 14.88 in micronaire value, -5.97 to 10.02 in bundle strength and -32.57 to 113.40 in seed cotton yield per plant, where, highest number of crosses (24) with significant mid parental heterosis in desirable direction was observed for seed cotton yield per plant followed by 2.5 % span length (16) and ginning percentage (12). Desirable and significant heterosis over better parent was observed in the crosses for all the studied characters except for uniformity ratio. A good number of crosses recorded significant standard heterosis over check for all the studied parameters except for uniformity ration and micronaire value. Apart from showing considerable level of heterosis for seed cotton yield, the crosses AKH 9331 x HAG 1055 exhibited good level of heterosis for ginning percentage, Galama x L 604 and Galama x JK 344 for uniformity ratio, Galama x HAG 1055, AKH 9331 x HAG 1055 and CPD 420 x IC 356932 for 2.5% span length and CPD 420 x JK 344 and BC 68-2 x LK 861 for bundle strength. So these crosses could be exploited to improve the yield along with one or more fiber quality traits through heterosis breeding.