Heritability of some agronomical and fiber quality traits in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Objective: It was aimed to determine the differences between parents and generations, the heterotic effects, inbreeding depression and heritability for yield and fiber quality traits in early generations of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Material and Methods: Ten F1 hybrid combinations were obtained by using Lodos, Gloria, Fiona, Claudia and İpek 607 as female; Flash and NP Özbek 100 cotton varieties as male parents. F2 population was obtained under greenhouse conditions through winter season. In 2021, a total of 27 genotypes, including 7 parents, 10 F1 and 10 F2 hybrid combinations, were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications. The differences among genotypes, heterosis, heterobeltiosis, inbreeding depression and heritability in broad sense were analyzed for the traits examined. Results: The differences among genotypes were found significant for all traits examined. The differences between parental, F1 and F2 population means were found to be significant for single plant seed cotton yield. For ginning out-turn and fiber quality traits, parent and generation means were not significant. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis were found positively in F1 and F2 generation for boll number, boll weight and single plant seed cotton yield, but negatively for fiber strength. Inbreeding depression was found negatively for boll number, boll weight, single plant seed cotton yield, ginning out-turn, fiber length and fiber strength, but positively for seed index. The highest broad sense heritability was estimated as 97.97% for ginning out-turn, 94.75% for fiber strength, 94.74% for seed index and 92.57% for fiber length, respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that Claudia and Fiona were the most suitable parents in terms of yield and fiber quality traits and Gloria × Flash and Fiona × Flash were the most promising hybrid combinations in both generations.