Combining ability study for seed cotton yield and attributing traits in American cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The objective of study was to analyse the general combining ability of parents and specific combining ability of hybrids for the development of high yielding and quality cultivars. Fifteen hybrids were obtained by crossing 3 lines and 5 testers in line x tester mating design during 2023. The mean sum of squares due to genotypes were highly significant for all the studied traits. significant variance indicated the presence of high amount of genetic variability among the parents and crosses. Out of eight parents, the female line AKBt-6 found best general combiner for days to 50% flowering, seed cotton yield, Ginning percentage (%) and Fibre fineness ( u g/inch). Among the testers AKBt-1 was found good general combiner for plant height, boll weight, seed cotton yield, lint index, seed index, and upper half mean length. Four hybrids viz. AKBt-6 x AKBt-206, AKBt-6 x AKBt-4, AKBt-3 x AKBt-4, AKBt-3 x AKBt-10 were found superior based on mean value, standard heterosis and specific combining ability effects.