Evaluation of genetic gains of some quantitative characters in Egyptian cotton cross (Giza 86 × Menoufi) under water deficit stress

Abstract

This work was carried out to select cotton genotypes adapted to semi-arid climate conditions cultivated under irrigation for high yields and the standards of the fiber quality properties required by the textile industry. Also to determine the predicted and realized gains from different selection indices to improve some economic characters under water stress conditions. Except for lint percentage and Pressley index, F4 generation reduced PCV and GCV values for all studied characters due to reduction in genetic variability and heterozygosity due to different selection procedures that exhausted a significant part of variability. Except for fiber length and micronaire reading, mean performance in the F4 generation was revealed to be higher than those in the F3 generation for all studied characters. However, micronaire reading was lower (desirable) in F4 than F3 generation. Generally, genotypic correlations were higher than phenotypic correlations. Direct selection for lint index (Ped.3) was the most efficient in improving lint cotton yield/plant and bolls/plant. However, the multiplicative index involving all studied characters (I.5) exhibited the highest values for boll weight. Also, the Ped.2 index (direct selection for lint percentage) proved to be the most efficient in improving seed and lint indexes. Direct selection for lint cotton yield/plant (Ped.1) could produce the highest desirable values for lint percentage and seed per boll with a relatively reasonable yield. A selection index involving yield and its components (I.3) is recommended in improving uniformity index, fiber strength, and micronaire reading. The superior five families released from these indices in F4 generation exceeded the better parent for lint cotton yield/plant, bolls/plant, boll weight, seeds/boll, lint index, and reasonable fiber traits. These families could be continued to further generations as breeding material for developing water deficit tolerant genotypes.

The effect of using fresh farmyard manure (animal manure) on the severity of Fusarium verticilioides in soil, root, stem, and kernels as well as lodging and borer incidence of maize plants

“…(2016) showed that organic soil amendments stimulate antagonistic activities of microorganisms to soil-borne diseases and decomposition of organic matter in the soil, which resulted in bioactive antifungal or nematicidal compounds accumulation in the soil. Soils treated with a high level of organic matter reduced the Fusarium rot root index, and improved yields occurred ( Naseri, 2014 ; El-Saadony et al, 2021a ; Abd El-Aty et al, 2022b ; El-Ashry et al, 2022 ; El-Marzoky et al, 2022 ; El-Okkiah et al, 2022a ).…”

Mode of gene action and heterosis for physiological, biochemical, and agronomic traits in some diverse rice genotypes under normal and drought conditions

“…Water scarcity is considered a natural phenomenon and is typically characterized as time without significant rainfall. It is the most significant constraint for rice production in rainfed habitats (Nelson et al, 2014;Pandey and Shukla, 2015;Abd El-Aty et al, 2022b). For instance, it causes considerable crop damage and a yield loss of more than 70% compared with normal conditions (Vaghefi et al, 2011;Abd El-Aty et al, 2022c;Abd El-Aty et al, 2022d).…”