Heterosis study is very helpful genetic parameters for identification of potential crosses for genetic improvement of cotton. The present study was undertaken by ten parents (7 lines and 3 testers) and their twenty-one resultant crosses with a check G. Cot. Hy-10 was evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications in line × tester manner during kharif 2022 at Main Cotton Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Surat. The heterobeltiosis for seed cotton yield per plant ranged from -24.80 to 99.55 per cent, while the standard heterosis ranged from -18.50 to 54.60 per cent. The highest value of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis were observed for cross BGDS 1063 × G. Cot-10 BG II. For seed cotton yield per plant top five crosses viz., BGDS 1063 × G. Cot-10 BG II, DELTA 15 × G. Cot-16 BG II, GISV 218 × G. Cot-10 BG II, SCS 106 × BC-68-2 BG II and GJHV 374 × BC-68-2 BG II recorded positive and significant heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis. These five crosses also exhibited significant heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for yields contributing character like bolls per plant, boll weight, ginning outturn, seed index, fiber strength, phenol content, protein content, oil content and gossypol content. In case of fiber parameters, the maximum value of standard heterosis was observed by the cross ARBC 1351 × G. Cot-10 BG II for ginning outturn and GJHV 374 × G. Cot-10 BG II for fiber strength. For biochemical parameters, cross GISV 218 × G. Cot-10 BG II, cross GISV 218 × G. Cot-16 BG II and cross SCS 1061 × BC-68 2 BG II recorded significant standard heterosis in desired direction for oil content, protein content and phenol content, respectively. On the basis of per se performance, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis cross combination BGDS 1063 × G. Cot-10 BG II was found to be the most promising for seed cotton yield and some of its component traits. So, this cross fully be exploited through pedigree method to obtain higher yielding transgressive segregants.

Cotton, Line × Tester, Heterosis, Heterobeltiosis, standard heterosis

The current analysis revealed significant amounts of both desired heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for various traits. These imply the potential for cotton improvement through heterosis breeding. Top-ranking crosses based on per se performance and standard heterosis were nearly identical, although heterobeltiosis resulted in a slight difference. Since better parent heterosis is less reliable, ranking based on standard heterosis is more reliable.

Mukeshkumar Parmar, Dhairya Makwana, Chirag P. Chandramaniya, Divya Patel, Denish Savaliya, M C. Patel and G.O. Faldu (2023). Estimation of Heterobeltiosis and Standard Heterosis for Morphological, Biochemical and Quality Traits in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 249-255.