CHAPTER VI

SUMMARY

The current research focus on examining heterosis in interspecific cotton hybrids

(crosses between Gossypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L.). The primary
aim is to identify potential parent plants and superior hybrid combinations. This is
achieved by crossing twelve parents, consisting of five lines and seven testers, using a line
x tester mating design. The main objective is to enhance both yield and fiber quality in
cotton. This investigation was conducted in the research fields of the Department of
Cotton at the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics (CPBG), Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, Coimbatore, during summer, 2023. The study involved the statistical analysis
of eighteen biometrical traits and the significant findings are summarized below.

 The analysis of variance conducted on both the parents and hybrids clearly
revealed a significant level of variability in the experimental material related to
yield and fibre quality traits. The ANOVA results for both parents and hybrids
indicated highly significant differences across all the traits studied.

 The analysis of variance conducted to assess combining ability showed that there
was a highly significant difference among the lines, testers, and the interaction
between lines and testers for all eighteen biometrical traits under study. The
significant nature of this interaction between lines and testers indicated the
presence of diverse hybrid combinations that outperformed others.

 The ratio of GCA (General Combining Ability) variance to SCA (Specific

Combining Ability) variance indicated that there was a predominance of non-
additive gene action for all the traits, including days to first flowering (DF), days
to fifty percent flowering (DFF), days to first bursting (DFB), plant height (PH),
number of monopodia per plant (NMPP), number of sympodia per plant (NSPP),
number of bolls per plant (NBPP), boll weight (BW), number of seeds per boll
(NSPB), seed cotton yield per plant (SCYPP), ginning outturn (GOT), lint index
(LI), seed index (SI), upper half mean length (UHML), uniformity ratio (UR),
bundle strength (BS), fibre fineness (FF), and elongation percentage (EP).
 Since all these traits in this study were primarily influenced by non-additive gene
action, they can be utilized in breeding approaches that encompass selection,
inter-mating selection, and reselection, apart from heterosis breeding.

 When evaluating the individual performance of the parents, it was observed that
GMS 14, GMS 17, and GMS 27 among the lines, and CO 18 and Suvin among
the testers, demonstrated strong mean performance for yield and fibre quality
characteristics.

 Regarding the genetic effects among parents, GMS 14, GMS 17, and GMS 27
were identified as the most favorable combiners for eight traits, including the
number of bolls per plant, seed cotton yield per plant, and upper half mean length.
Similarly, CO 18 and Suvin, among the testers, displayed highly significant
genetic effects for eight traits, such as seed cotton yield per plant, upper half mean
length, uniformity ratio, bundle strength, elongation percentage and fibre fineness.
The parents viz., GMS 14, GMS 17, GMS 27, CO 18 and Suvin have the potential
to excel as top general combiners for a majority of traits related to both yield and
fibre quality.

 When considering both the individual performance of parents and their genetic
effects, GMS 14 and GMS 17 outperformed in terms of higher average values and
genetic effects for traits such as plant height, number of monopodia per plant,
number of bolls per plant, boll weight, elongation percentage and fibre fineness.
Similarly, CO 18 and Suvin, among the testers, exhibited highly significant
individual performance and genetic effects for seed index, uniformity ratio and
elongation percentage. These parents, namely GMS 14, GMS 17, CO 18 and
Suvin, were identified as the most suitable candidates for developing hybrid
varieties with exceptional yield and fibre quality.

 The hybrid combinations viz., GMS 14 x CO 18, GMS 14 x Suvin, GMS 17 x

CCB51, GMS 17 x CCB 2, GMS 17 x CCB 6, GMS 17 x CO 18, GMS 17 x
Suvin, GMS 19 x CCB 26, GMS 14 x DB 1901, GMS 14 x CCB 2, GMS 21 x
CCB 6 and GMS 27 x Suvin had exhibited significant levels of hybrid vigor when
compared to both the average of the parents (mid-parent) and the superior parent
(better parent), as well as in comparison to standard hybrid vigor values.
Specifically, they have displayed notable increases in seed cotton yield per plant.
 Considering the individual performance of hybrids, three specific combinations,
namely GMS 14 x CO 18, GMS 17 x CO 18 and GMS 27 x Suvin demonstrated
significant performance across most of the yield and fibre quality traits. Among
these, the top five hybrids that exhibited highly significant individual performance
for seed cotton yield per plant were identified as GMS 14 x CO 18, GMS 17 x
CO 18, GMS 27 x Suvin, GMS 19 x CCB 26 and GMS 14 x DB 1901.

 Regarding the specific combining ability (sca) effects, it was observed that the
hybrid GMS 14 x CO 18 displayed significant sca effects across eleven important
traits related to both yield and fibre quality. Similarly, the hybrid GMS 17 x
CO 18 exhibited highly significant sca effects for ten traits. As a result, these
hybrids were identified as highly suitable candidates for heterosis breeding.

 The analysis of standard heterosis estimates indicated that the hybrids GMS 14 x
CO 18, GMS 17 x CO 18 and GMS 27 x Suvin displayed significant performance
in terms of yield and fibre quality traits.

 Considering the results from individual performance, specific combining ability

effects, and standard heterosis, it was determined that the hybrids namely GMS
14 x CO 18, GMS 17 x CO 18 and GMS 27 x Suvin were the preferred hybrids
for heterosis breeding.

 Conversely, the hybrid combinations viz., GMS 14 x Suvin and GMS 17 x Suvin
displayed negligible specific combining ability effects, but significant general
combining ability effects from their respective parents in terms of ginning
outturn, uniformity index, elongation percentage and fibre fineness. As a result, it
is recommended that these hybrids be considered for recombination breeding to
enhance these specific traits.

 The results of the correlation analysis involving eighteen biometrical traits

indicated that there was a notable positive relationship between seed cotton yield
per plant and various factors such as the number of sympodia per plant, boll
weight, ginning outturn, lint index, seed index, upper half mean length,
uniformity index, bundle strength, elongation percentage and fibre fineness in
terms of genotypic correlation. Similar patterns were observed in the phenotypic
correlation, mirroring the genetic correlation findings.
 Regarding intercorrelation analysis, it was observed that there were strong and
significant correlations among traits such as the number of sympodia per plant,
boll weight, ginning outturn, upper half mean length, uniformity index, elongation
percentage and fibre fineness across most of the traits. Therefore, it is advisable to
consider indirect selection for these traits when aiming to develop high-yielding
genotypes.

 Path coefficient analysis revealed that traits such as boll weight, ginning outturn,
upper half mean length, elongation percentage and fibre fineness had strongly
positive direct impacts on seed cotton yield. Conversely, the number of sympodia
per plant, lint index and uniformity index had notably negative direct effects on
seed cotton yield.

 Boll weight displayed a high level of both Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation

(PCV) and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV). Meanwhile, traits like the
number of sympodia per plant, number of bolls per plant, lint index, ginning
outturn, uniformity index and elongation percentage showed moderate levels of
PCV and GCV. Additionally, traits with high heritability and substantial genetic
advance, such as the number of sympodia per plant, number of bolls per plant,
boll weight, lint index, seed cotton yield per plant, uniformity index and
elongation percentage were indicated that additive gene action plays a significant
role in these characteristics.