Correlation and regression analysis for seed cotton yield in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The success of cotton breeding programs depends on the relationship between yield and the criteria that can be used in indirect selection. The present study aimed to explore the relationships among yield components, earliness, fiber quality, and trash content traits. Five cotton cultivars were grown in two locations, Söke and Nazilli, in a Randomized Complete Block Design in 2023. Seed cotton yield was significantly and positively correlated with reflectance (0.53**), days to first flowering (0.37*), days to boll retention (0.35*), boll number per plant (0.64**), and boll weight (0.47**). Stepwise regression analysis and path analysis indicated that the boll number per plant, boll weight, and fiber fineness were the traits that contributed most highly to seed cotton yield. Earliness, spinning consistency, seed index, boll number per plant, uniformity index, short fiber content, elongation, reflectance, fiber fineness, and ginning out-turn explained 86.5% of the total variation in principal component analysis. In the biplot graph, reflectance, fiber fineness, boll number, boll weight, and earliness traits were located at similar coordinates to seed cotton yield. All analysis methods proved that the boll number and boll weight are the most important selection criteria for high cotton yield.