Genetic Analysis of Heterosis for Yield and Fibre Quality Traits in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton is one of the major crops that can be used for both commercial heterosis exploitation and the development of genotypes as varieties. The present research was aimed to determine best heterotic crosses for yield, fibre quality and economically important traits and to develop compact hybrids. Five lines and three testers were crossed in Line × Tester mating design to obtain 15 hybrids. All fifteen crosses, their parents and two checks were evaluated in 2024 kharif season in randomised complete block design. The results indicated significant differences among lines, testers and crosses for most of the traits and preponderance of non-additive gene action. The lines CMP3 recorded maximum mean value of seed cotton yield. For seed cotton yield trait, none of the crosses showed significant positive heterosis over better parent and standard heterosis. Three crosses viz., CMP1 × V1, CMP3 × V1 and CMP3 × V3 exhibited high significant mean performance and higher standard heterosis over standard check for yield, fibre quality and economically important traits and thus, could be exploited for crop improvement programme.