During the three successive seasons of 2002, 2003, and 2004 six populations,
viz.,P1,P2,F1,F2,BC1, and BC2 of two single crosses of cotton (Aleppo40 x
Aleppo90) and (Aleppo33/1 x Line118) were established and evaluated to
explore heterosis, inbree
ding depression, heritability and genetic advance
under selection for reproductive branches number, number of bolls per plant,
boll weight, and ginning percentage. Significant positive heterotic effects were
found for all the studied traits in two crosses except ginning percentage (in the
second cross). Significant positive heterosis over mid-parent and higher parent
for yield components (number of bolls per plant and boll weight) may lead to a
positive heterosis for seed cotton yield/plant.
Succes of a breeding program depends, to a great extent, on understanding
the gentic behavior of the traits. This investigation was conducted to study and
examine the inheritance of some economically important characters such as:
total bolls numbe
r, actual bolls number, ginning percentage , boll weight,
harvest index, flowering earliness, maturity earliness, plant height,and fiber
fineness.
