A CASE STUDY ON EXPLOITATION OF HETEROSIS USING MULTIPLE PEST TOLERANCE IN GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.

Abstract

Multiple pest tolerant Gossypium hirsutum 1. strains were crossed with four bollworm susceptible strains. Nine out of 13 hybrids gave 79-149% higher yields of seed cotton over commercial check, and 1.27-153.8% over better parent (BP). The highest yielding hybrid produced 91.10 g seed cotton per plant as compared to 38.4 g of var. 5harada. 05-28 was the male parent in five high yielding hybrids. Numberof sympodia, boll number per plant and BRI(y) are predominantly controlled by dominant and/or epistatic gene action. Boll weight is mainly additive with tlte Fl values nearly same as mid parental values. Trial strain MPR JK 345·1·2 produced the highest yield (71.7 g/plant> with minimum plant protection. Five hybrids were identified for testing under large scale, with minimum plant protection.