Combining ability analysis for fibre quality traits in desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) across the environment

Abstract

Cotton is one of the most important fibre and cash crop of India and plays a dominant role in the industrial and agricultural economy of the country. In present investigation total fourty eight crosses with fourteen parents and three checks viz., PKV Suvarna, PKV DH 1 and NACH 12 were grown in Randomized Block Design with two replications during kharif, 2022 at three locations viz., Cotton Research Station, Mahboob Baugh Farm, Parbhani (L1), Cotton Research Station, Nanded (L2), and Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur (L3). Pooled over the environments, the highest GCA effect for fibre quality traits was showed by line PAIG 411, PA 810 and testers AKA 7, PA 402. Pooled over the environments, among the crosses highest significant SCA for fibre quality traits was recorded in PAIG 411 x AKA 7 exhibiting significant SCA for GOT (2.79), UHML (1.18) and micronaire (-0.47) pooled over the locations. Next highest significant SCA recorded by PA 810 x PA 402 exhibiting significant SCA for GOT (1.39), UHML (1.64), micronaire (-0.26) and uniformity index (1.84) pooled over the locations. Selection in further generations would be rewarding to get best transgressive segregants for fibre quality.