Principal Component Analysis of Yield and Fiber-related traits in Cotton Genotypes

Studies on principal component analysis of cotton genotypes for hereditary diversity in accordance with yield and related characters, including fiber quality attributes, were conducted at the Research Farm of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, D I K during the cotton crop season 2023. The trial was conducted to examine the the impact of genetic variability in cotton accessions, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and to estimate heritability and genetic gain for fiber quality, yield, and associated factors in cotton germplasm. Sixty-four cotton germplasm were assessed in an RCB design with three replications. Statistics were documented for various yield and related attributes along with fiber quality attributes like plant height, monopodia, sympodia, No. of bolls, weight, population, seed cotton produce, GOT, fiber length, strength, micronaire value, and uniformity index. Results revealed that estimations of genotypic and phenotypic quantity of difference were observed to be maximum and commonly similar to each other, whereas environment quantity of variance was low, indicating that all evaluated traits were organized hereditarily with a minute environmental impact. Heritability estimates were highest for all the studied attributes, depicting very little influence of the environment on these genotypes. Similarly, genetic advance was also maximum for all the evaluated attributes. Among the 14 principal components, 5 had Eigen value greater than 1 and an aggregate variation of 78% for entirely evaluated traits. PC I and PC II contribute approximately 50 % of the aggregate variances. Sixty-four germplasms were organized into three clusters (1, 2, and 3) with an average similarity level of 79.83% among clusters. Baghdadi, CIM 622, Sitara 008, CEMB 66, Leader 5, Cyto 178, FH Lalazar, CRIS 600, AA 703, and Sitara 009 were assessed as heritably maximum varied genotypes which can be successfully used in the cotton development program in the future.