Combining Ability Studies for Fiber Quality Traits in Desi Cotton (Gossipium Arboreum L.)

Twenty four hybrid combinations derived by crossing six arboreum lines (PA 713, PA 743, PA 734, PA760, PA 720, PAIG 326) with four arboreum testers (PA 255, PA 402, PA 08, PA 528) were tested along with their parents including two checks (PKVDH 1, SWADESHI 651). The observations on five fiber quality traits were recorded on randomly selected five plants. Among ten parental lines, four lines were found to be the best general combiners. PA 760 and PA 255 showed good general combiner for 2.5 per cent span length, PA 743, PA 734, PA 08, PA 255 showed good general combiner for fibre fineness (micronaire) and PA 720 and PA 760 among females and PA 255 in males showed good gca for short fibre index and fibre strength. Likewise PAIG 326 and PA 720 showed same for uniformity ratio in desirable direction. The study of sca revealed that the cross PA 734 x PA 528 exhibited significant high sca effect for 2.5 per cent span length, fiber strength and showed significant negative sca effect for short fibre index. Whereas the cross PA 760 x PA 402 exhibited positive significant sca effects for fibre strength and uniformity ratio. Similarly the crosses PAIG 326 x PA 255 and PA 734 x PA 528 showed significant negative sca effect for short fibre index.