Association and Heritability Analysis for Yield and Fiber Traits in Promising Genotypes of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

Seed cotton yield and fiber quality traits are controlled by many genes and greatly affected by the environmental cues. Hence, selection based on only yield would not be effective. In order to improve the yield potential of the cotton cultivars, an understanding of the relationship among various traits is of more importance. The current research was aimed to estimate correlation and heritability in eight promising genotypes of upland cotton for eight quantitative and qualitative traits. Results depicted significant differences (P ≤0.05) among the varieties for all the studied traits, exhibiting the availability of substantial genetic diversity among the cultivars for studied traits. Hence, these promising cultivars can further be exploited in various breeding programs to improve various quantitative and qualitative characters in cotton genotypes. Correlation analysis showed that sympodial branches plant-1 , boll weight and bolls plant-1 made significant and positive associations with seed cotton yield plant-1 . Thus, selection for these traits will ultimately enhance the chances to increase seed cotton yield plant-1 . High heritability estimates were found for all studied traits, with the exception of monopodial branches plant-1 , indicating that these traits were primarily controlled by additive gene effects and direct selection may be proved useful for these traits.