Correlation, Stepwise and Path Analysis in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

A deep understanding of the associations between characteristics is crucial in determining selection criteria for the development of cotton genotypes with desirable traits such as high yield and fiber quality. For this purpose, the correlation, stepwise, and path analysis results were examined in two separate sets consisting of parents + F1 and F2. The relationships between seed cotton yield and boll number, days to first squaring, and days to first flowering were parallel in both parents + F1 and F2, whereas all other relationships were different in both data sets. Boll number significantly and positively correlated with seed cotton yield and ginning out-turn in both populations. Boll weight positively increased the seed cotton yield but negatively affected the ginning out-turn. As a result of stepwise regression analysis, seed cotton yield = -77.674 + 14.234 boll weight + 5.466 boll number in parents + F1 and seed cotton yield = -47.367 + 11.627 boll weight + 5.163 boll number + 2.933 seed index + 1.508 ginning out-turn -3.362 fiber length in F2. In F2 generation, a single plant with a high boll number per plant should be selected to increase seed cotton yield and ginning out-turn without negatively affecting fiber quality characteristics.