A study on the genetic make up of agronomic and fiber technological properties in the F1 generation in cotton (Gossypium ssp.)

This study was conducted to determine the genetic make up of the F] generations of the crosses between PAUM-15 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) developed by the University of Cukurova Cotton Research and Application Center and Cocer 4104/75 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and Delcerro (Gossypium barbadense L.) which have better fiber technological characteristics to improve some traits of the PAUM-15 variety in the planned breeding programme. In the created population, significant genetic variations were found in the investigated characteristics namely plant height, number of monopodial and sympodial branches, number of bolls, seed-cotton weight of bolls, seed-cotton yield, ginning outturn as well as length, fineness and strength of fibers. It has been concluded that the following were the most promising crosses which can be used in improvement works: PAUM-15 x Coker 4104/75 in improvement of number of sympodial branches per plant and ginning outturn; Coker 4104/75 x PAUM-15 in improvement of plant height, seed cotton weight of bolls; PAUM-15 x Delcerro in improvement of number of bolls per plant, seed cotton yield; and Delcerro x PAUM-15 in improvement of length, strength and fineness of fibers. Key Words: Cotton, hybridization, heterosis, heterobeltiosis