Breeding for Higher Fibre Quality Traits in Upland Cotton Through Line × Tester Analysis

The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications at Shah Abdul Latif Experimental Farm, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. Employing a line × tester mating design in upland cotton (Gossypium hirutum L.), twenty-one cross combinations were obtained from seven females and three males. F1 and F2 generations, along with their parents, were sown in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Studied traits included lint yield (g) per plant, G.O.T (%), staple length (mm), fiber fineness (mic.value), and fiber strength (g/tex). Throughout the growing period, recommended cultural practices were followed. Analysis of variance revealed high significance for genotypes, parents, crosses, and their interactions (P×C) for all traits. In the F1 generation, lint yield and staple length under line × tester (L×T) were highly significant. For the F2 generation, genotypes, parents, crosses, and P×C were highly significant for all traits except G.O.T%, where lines, testers, and L×T were highly significant for all traits except G.O.T%. Cross VH-292 × VH-291 excelled in lint yield per plant, while CRIS-342 × IR-3701 demonstrated superior fiber fineness and strength. VH-292 × VH-291 also displayed higher lint yield per plant, while CRIS-342 × FH-113 exhibited longer staple length with increased fiber fineness. Significant mean squares for genotypes (parents, crosses, and parents × crosses) indicate the data's utility for assessing parental performance, hybrid evaluation, heterotic effects, and inbreeding depression.