Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 1: 13 - 17. Published January 2008.
Heterosis in three intervarietal crosses for yield and yield contributing traits in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Mueen AK*^, Moazzam J*, Muhammad N*, Irfan A*, Muhammad SK**, Aamir S***
*College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
**Department of Statistics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
***Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, University of Agriculture (UAF), Faisalabad, Pakistan.
^Corresponding author: E-Mail: mueen_1981@yahoo.com; Telephone: 092629255531
ABSTRACT
Objective: Pakistan’s economy depends on cotton production and the use of heterosis (hybrid vigor) in cotton genotypes to increase yield and improve fiber quality has long been an objective of research scientists. This study was designed to exploit heterosis in cotton as a breeding tool to improve cotton yields that have stagnated in recent years.
Methodology and Results: Heterosis over mid or better parent was calculated in three crosses of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) involving varieties CIM 506, CIM 702, CIM 443, FH 1000 and CIM 1100 that are grown in Pakistan. Heterosis was observed for all the characters. The cross CIM 443 x CIM 1100 showed maximum positive heterosis (181%) for seed cotton yield followed by number of bolls per plant (93%) and number of sympodia (24%).
Conclusion and application of findings: We conclude that cotton plant exhibit fair amount of heterosis and crosses involving these parents would provide potential breeding material for further exploitation of heterosis in Pakistan.
Key words: Breeding, Gossypium hirsutum L., heterosis, mid parent, Pakistan.
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