Genetic variability heritability and genetic advance studies in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum l.)

M. Gnanasekaran
K. Thiyagu
M. Gunasekaran
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Abstract

The present experiment was carried out at research farm of Cotton Research Station, Srivilliputtur, to determine genetic 
variability, heritability and genetic advance estimates in upland cotton. The analysis of variance involving a set of fourty two 
improved hirsutum genotypes received from various research institutes under AICRP on Cotton  for eleven characters viz., Days 
to 50 % flowering, Plant height, Number of monopodia per plant, Number of sympodia per plant, Number of bolls per plant, Boll 
weight, Ginning percentage, Upper Half Mean Length, Bundle strength, Micronaire value, and Seed cotton yield (kg/ha) revealed 
highly significant mean sum of squares for all the characters indicating greater diversity among the genotypes. The value of 
Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) is greater than Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV); it means that the apparent 
variation is not only due to genotypes but also due to influence of environment. The difference between the estimates of PCV and 
GCV were low for all the characters except number of monopodia per plant, number of sympodia per plant and number of bolls 
per plant thereby indicating that lesser role played by the environment in the expression of these characters. The traits like Days 
to 50% flowering, Plant height, Boll weight, Seed cotton yield (kg/ha), Upper half mean length, Micronaire value and Bundle 
strength exhibited high broad sense of heritability and moderate sense of heritability was observed for Number of monopodia per 
plant, Number of sympodia per plant, Number of bolls per plant and Ginning percentage. High heritability coupled with high 
genetic advance as a percent of mean was recorded for boll weight, seed cotton yield and micronaire value indicated the major 
role of additive gene action in the inheritance of these characters. Thus, these characters may serve as an effective selection 
parameter during breeding programme in the upland cotton. 

Keywords Variability, Heritability, Seed Cotton Yield, Gossypium hirsutum.
Published 22/02/26