INCREASING GENETIC DIVERSITY OF COTTON BREEDING PROGRAMS IN VENEZUELA

Abstract

There is a steady increase of demands for textile crops, where cotton is the most popular natural fiber, therefore, it is necessary to exploit cotton genetic resources. In order to develop and improve crop populations, a cotton breeding program requires access to new sources of germplasm. With the objectives to evaluate the productivity of local and introduced genotypes from Syria and Brazil, and to expand the genetic base in the Venezuelan Cotton Breeding Program, 16 genotypes were evaluated at three locations in Venezuela during 2013 and 2014 using a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The traits evaluated were plant height, stem diameter, lint yield, boll weight, number of seed per boll, 100-seed weight, and fiber content. Highly significant differences (P≤0.01) were observed among genotypes, environments and their interaction for all traits, except for lint yield and number of seed per boll across environments. ʻC-2955-25ʼ showed high yield (3514.3 kg.ha-1 ) but was unstable across environments used in the evaluation. ʻL-2955-13ʼ was stable across the environments, suggesting that it would be a good parent. All the genotypes obtained values of lint percent above of 38%. The Syrians genotypes ʻAleppo-11ʼ and ʻAleppo-90ʼ showed high lint yield and good agronomic performance. Genotypes identified in this study could be used as potential sources of germplasm to be introduced in future breeding programs.