Estimation of Combining Ability for Within-Boll Yield Components in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Abstract

In this study, three varieties Tarzon-05, FH-342, and VH-329 were crossed in line ×tester fashion with three testers CIM-595, CRS-2, and BS-80 during the 2021-2022. The F1 hybrids and their parents were planted in the fields, Plant Breeding and Genetics department, University of Agriculture Faisalabad using two replications with randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results of ANOVA revealed that all the genotypes were highly significant for most of the plant height, sympodial branches/plant, monopodial branches/plant, first fruiting nodes, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, number of seeds per boll, seed cotton yield/plant, lint index, lint percentage, seed index, seed density, seed volume, fiber fineness, fiber strength, and fiber length. For plant height, fibre strength, and seed density, Tarzon-05 stood out among the lines as a very effective general combiner. For the number of bolls per plant, the number of sympodial and monopodial branches, the number of nodes on the first fruiting branch, seed cotton yield and the lint percentage, VH-329 demonstrated good general combining ability. For boll weight, the FH-342 was proven to be an effective combiner. CIM-595 stood out among the testers as a good general combiner in terms of number of bolls per plant, monopodial branches, number of first fruiting branch node, seed cotton yield, and lint%. For fibre fineness, BS-80 was identified to be a good general combiner. A good specific combining ability was shown by the F 1 hybrids Tarzon-05×BS-80 for plant height and fibre length, VH-329×CIM-595 for the quantity of bolls per plant, VH-329×BS-80 for the quantity of sympodial branches per plant and Tarzon-05×CRS-2 for the quantity of monopodial branches per plant and fibre strength. For the number of nodes for first fruiting branch, boll weight, fibre length, and seed cotton yield/plant, VH-329×CRS-2 was determined to be a good specific combiner, and FH-342×CIM-595 shown good specific combining ability for seed density and fibre strength. For seed volume, all of the parents and their hybrids displayed non-significant GCA and SCA values. All attributes, with the exception of seed index, were governed by non-additive gene action. The information related to GCA, SCA and gene action obtained from this research will be helpful for plant breeders in future breeding programs.

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