Heterosis and inbreeding studies for seed cotton yield and its component traits in desi cotton

A study was conducted to assess the extent of the heterosis for sixteen yield and yield-attributing traits in four cotton hybrids (each having P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations) obtained by crossing four interspecific lines of desi cotton in a compact family block design with three replications during kharif 2017-18. Highly significant and positive relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and inbreeding depression were recorded in most of the crosses. For seed cotton yield per plant, positive and highly significant relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and inbreeding depression were recorded in all the four crosses indicated major role of non-additive gene actions in the inheritance of seed cotton yield per plant and its attributes, while cross III (GShv 362/12 x PA 812) recorded the highest heterotic effect among all crosses which also performed well for monopodia per plant, average boll weight, lint yield per plant, ginning percentage, lint index, fibre fineness and fibre strength.