Understanding the genetics of fibre development through crosses generated using lintless fuzzless genotypes in cotton g

Abstract

The present study entitled Understanding the genetics of fibre development through newlinecrosses generated using lintless-fuzzless genotypes in cotton was carried out at the newlineDepartment of Cotton, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The main objective of newlinethis research was to investigate the inheritance of traits namely fuzzlessness and lintlessness in newlinecotton seeds and to generate high yielding linted- fuzzless and naked seeded hybrids/varieties. newlineThe hybridization programme was carried out in summer 2022. This study encompasses thirty newlinesix hybrids generated through two different sets of Line x Tester mating designs employing six newlinefuzzy and three fuzzless parents in both the ways. Parents and hybrids were evaluated in newlineRandomized Block Design with two replications, along with check in kharif 2022. The data newlinewere subjected to statistical analysis to estimate the nature of gene action, combining ability of newlineparents and hybrids, heterosis of cross combinations and association between seed cotton yield newlineand yield attributing traits, fibre and seed quality parameters. Four elite hybrids viz., CO14 / newlineAKH98-81, CO17 / AKH98-81, CO14 / TCH1646 and CO17 / TCH1646 were further newlineforwarded to raise segregating generations and hybrids were also backcrossed with respective newlineparents to raise six generations for six parameter model generation mean analysis. The F2 newlinepopulation along with parents, F1s and backcrossed hybrids were evaluated during summer newline2023. newlineThe analysis of F1 hybrids indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action for newlineall the studied traits including seed cotton yield. Among the parents, CO14 and CO17 were newlineidentified as elite general combiners for yield and fibre quality traits, while AKH98-81 newlineexhibited early maturing characteristics and desirable seed protein and gossypol content. newlineGenotypes CO17 and AKH98-81 were recommended as best general combiners when newlineemployed as lines, while TCH1646 and MCU5LL were recommended as best general newlinecombiners when employed as testers.