Studies on gene effects of seed cotton yield and its attributes in five American cotton cultivars

A 5 X 5 full diallel cross experiment was conducted involving five cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties namely CIM-443, NIAB Krishma, Cris-420, RH-112 and Coker-207 to evaluate genetic effects involved in the inheritance of various multigenic plant traits. The characters under consideration were number of monopodial branches, number of sympodial branches, boll weight, yield of seed cotton, lint percentage, staple length, fibre fineness and fibre strength. All the characters showed considerable genetic variations among the genotypes (P less than 0.01). The data for all the characters were partially fit for additive-dominance genetic model. All the characters showed additive type of gene effects with partial dominance. Narrow sense heritability estimates were higher for all the characters studied except lint percentage and staple length. Presence of additive genetic effects and high narrow sense heritability estimates suggested that selection breeding might be progressive for genetic improvement for yield of seed cotton and its attributes.