Combining ability analysis for yield and yield attributing traits in interspecific (G. hirsutum L. X G. barabdense L.) hybrids of cotton

Abstract

Combining ability studies were carried out in interspecific (G. hirsutum L. X G. barabdense L.) hybrids of cotton for 
plant height, number of monopodia, number of sympodia, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, lint index, seed 
index, ginning out turn and seed cotton yield by following the line x tester analysis, involving 17 hirsutum lines and 
three barbadense testers with their 51 hybrids. The analysis revealed predominance of non-additive gene action for 
most of the characters except for number of monopodia and number of sympodia. This suggests the possibility of 
exploiting heterosis in the present material. Superior parents HBS-1, FQT-37 and HBS-146 in lines while BCS-23 in 
testers are having high gca effects for yield and its components and can be used to develop multiple crosses leading 
to further selection. Top five cross combinations viz., FQT-37 X SB-YF-425, 543403A03N106 X BCS-23, CSHH
243M X BCS-23, HBS-1 X Suvin and HAG-1055 X SB-YF-425 exhibited high mean value with high sca effects for 
seed cotton yield. These crosses were found to involve at least one parent with high gca effect and the other parent 
having either high or low gca effect indicating the involvement of additive as well as non-additive gene action 
operating in these crosses except one cross where both the parents having high sca effects indicating the involvement 
of additive gene action.