Genetic analysis for estimating combining ability in Gossypium hirsutum L. x Gossypium barbadense L. hybrids

Abstract

Two sets of 28 interspecific HxB hybrids generated in LxT fashion, along with their parents were evaluated for 11 yield and fibre quality parameters. GCA variances were lower than SCA variances for all the characters in both sets, as indicated by their lower ratios suggesting predominance of non-additive gene action. Based on both per se and gca effects, GJHV 374 BT, RAJAT BT, ICB 39 and CCB 141 in Set I and GJHV 374 BT, SURAJ BT, ICB 176 and SUVIN in Set II were found to be the best parents which could be utilized for the hybridization programme to obtain superior segregants with yield and fibre qualities. The hybrids viz., RAJAT BTxICB 99, RAJAT BTxICB 34,SURAJ BTxICB 39, GJHV 374 BTxICB 264, SURAJ BTxICB 264 and SURAJ BTxICB 284 showed significant sca effects. Hence, it may be concluded that the above hybrids are the best specific combiners for different yield-contributing and fibre-quality traits. The sca effect was found to be positive in17 crosses and 11 crosses for single plant yield in set I and II, respectively. Similarly, six crosses each in sets I and II were found with a positive sca effect for fibre length.

Keywords

• cotton
• combining ability
• gca
• sca
• interspecific bt hybrids