HETEROTIC EFFECT FOR SEED COTTON YIELD AND ITS CONTRIBUTING TRAITS IN CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The present research was carried out to assess the heterotic performance of F₁ hybrids at two locations. Analysis of variance exhibited that hybrids and environment was significant for all the characters. However, their interaction was also significant which indicated sufficient genetic variability is available in the material. Hybrids expressed high significant mid and better parent heterosis for seed cotton yield, also possess higher heterosis values for yield contributing traits at both locations, their mean performance was also noted high. In both the environments hybrids given 50% heterosis effect for yield and its contributing traits need to special attention for further exploitation for boos up cotton production and per acre yield. The heterotic effect of hybrids were diverse in environments, therefore suggested that formulation of effective breeding program high heterotic crosses could be selected which performed best in individual locations. It is further suggested that parents which were involved in hybrid combinations performed best must pick for utilization in heterosis breeding program.