Heterosis and Inbreeding Depression Studies for Fibre Quality Traits in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Ashita Patel *
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396 450, India.
K. N. Chaudhari
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Bharuch- 392 012, India.
G. O. Fladu
Main Cotton Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Surat- 395 007, India.
Sanyam Patel
KKIASR, Ganpat University, Kherva, Mehsana- 384 012, Gujarat, India.
J. S. Mahla
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand- 388 110, India.
M. R. Prajapati
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396 450, India.
G. M. Patel
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396 450, India.
Harshita R. Patel
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396 450, India.
D. P. Patel
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396 450, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cotton hybrids have its own advantage than varieties in yield and fibre properties. Heterosis breeding helps in identifying F1 hybrids and in creating variability. The chief intention of any hybridization programme is to combine all the desirable genes present in two or more parents into a single genetic background. This investigation helped in identifying the extent of heterosis in crosses among four families in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) which was conducted at college Farm during kharif 2021-23. The all 4 hybrids were derived by generation mean analysis study which were analysed for fibre quality traits in a Compact Family Block Design. For traits like Ginning percentage, uniformity index, Upper Half Mean Length, Lint index, and Fibre strength, most of the crosses showed positive and significant relative heterosis. While, heterobeltiosis was also found positive and significant for ginning percentage, uniformity index, Upper half mean length and fibre strength for most of the crosses under study. Most of the crosses under study also showed little inbreeding depression for traits like ginning percentage, uniformity index and fibre strength. Thus, by exploiting the benefits of heterosis while mitigating risks associated with inbreeding depression may lead to the development of superior hybrid varieties with consistently improved fibre quality.
Keywords: Relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis, inbreeding depression, hybrids