LINE X TESTER ANALYSIS FOR YIELD AND FIBER QUALITY IN COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in order to estimate gene action, combining ability and heterotic effects for yield and quality characters by the line x tester analysis, involving 5 lines and 4 testers with 20 crosses in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The ratio of general and specific ability variance revealed non-additive gene action effects for seed cotton yield, fiber length, fiber strength and ginning percentage and additive gene action for fiber fineness and reflectance degree. Claudia, Gloria and Bali 308 with high general combining ability were the best combiner parents and could be used for breeding multi-parent combinations. ST-468 x Claudia, Carisma x Carmen, Bali 308 x Gloria and Bali 308 x Claudia were promising combinations for further selection. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis values of most cross combinations for seed cotton yield, fiber strength and ginning percentage were negative direct. It was concluded that due to non-additive gene actions, it is advisable to select individual plants for seed cotton yield, ginning percentage and fiber traits in later generations (F4-F6).