CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF SEED COTTON YIELD WITH SOME QUANTITATIVE TRAITS IN UPLAND COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.)

Correlation and regression studies of cultivars of Gossypium hirsutum L., were analysed for quantitative characters. Results revealed that highly significant positive correlation (r=0.567) was displayed by sympodial branches with seed cotton yield, which showed that seed cotton yield was greatly influenced by sympodial branches. The coefficient of determination (r(2)=0.321) revealed 32.1% variation in the seed cotton yield per plant, due to its relationship with sympodial branches per plant. Regression coefficient (b=5.66) showed that a unit increase in sympodial branches per plant resulted into a proportional increase of 5.66 gms in seed cotton yield per plant, whereas bolls per plant exhibited strong positive association with seed cotton yield (r=0.959). The coefficient of determination (r(2)=0.92) revealed 92% of the total variation in seed cotton yield attributable to the variation in number of bolls per plant. The regression coefficient (b=3.37) indicated that for a unit increase in bolls per plant, there would be a proportional increase of 3.37 gms in seed cotton yield per plant. Boll weight displayed a highly significant positive correlation (r=0.597) with seed cotton yield per plant. The coefficient of determination (r(2)=0.356) determined that boll weight was responsible for 35.6% variation in seed cotton yield per plant. The regression coefficient (b=53.479) indicated that a unit increase in boll weight resulted into corresponding increase of 53.48 gms in seed cotton yield per plant. However, the plant height and monopodial branches per plant showed non significant association with the yield per plant.