Selection of Parents for Heterosis Breeding through Line x Tester Analysis in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Abstract

In the modern era of synthetic fibres, cotton continues to occupy top position as king of fibres and accounts for more than 60 per cent consumption in the World's textile industry. A study on heterosis will therefore have a direct bearing on the breeding methodology to be employed for varietal improvement. Hybridization is an important tool to exploit the genetic variability and breaking linkages as well as to create new genetic variability. Looking to the importance of the hybrid in increasing productivity as well as quality of cotton, present investigation was undertaken to measure heterosis for yield and its component traits.