Heterosis for seed cotton yield and fibre quality characters in desicotton (Gossypium arboreum L.)

The experiment was conducted by using five male and five female lines in line x teste design. In the present investigation most of the crosses reported positively significant heterosis for seed cotton yield per plant. The extent of hoterosis depends primarily on the magnitude of non additive gave effects as parent possesses wide genetic diversity for seed cotton yield. Out of 25 crosses, 12 cross combinations showed positively significant hererosis over MP, BP and SC for fibre staplelength. In case of boll weight crosses showed positive and significant heterosis over mid parent, better parent and standard check. The extent of heterosis for boll weight was 14.55 per cent over mid parent, 19.93 per cent over better parent and 23.80 per cent over standard check PKVDH 1. The crosses PA 686 x AKA 9703 and PA 686 x JLA 794 exhibited significant positive heterosis over mid parent, better parent and standard check for seed cotton yield.