General and specific combining abilities in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) intraspecific crosses utilizing G. harknessii Brandegee male sterile cytoplasm

Date

1984-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Recent technological advances have created renewed interest in the development and production of hybrid cotton seed.

Major technical obstacles which have been cited are: 1) complete male fertility restoration in the F1s, 2) adequate pollen transfer between parental rows in commercial production fields, and 3) identification of superior parental combinations.

The present study was conducted to determine the levels of heterosis and the relative magnitudes of general and specific combining abilities in crosses between cytoplasmic male sterile lines derived from relatively modern cotton cultivars, and male lines representing the major sources of fertility restorers now publicly available to cotton breeders.

Incomplete sets of crosses involving 3 male and 13 female lines were grown in replicated trials at three locations. Estimates of heterosis, analyses of variance and combining ability estimates are presented for lint yield, and for fiber length, strength and fineness.

Positive estimates of heterosis for lint yield ranged from 100 to 133% over high parents. Maximum observed heterotic responses over high parent were 109% for fiber length, 104% for fiber fineness and 106% for fiber strength.

Statistically significant male x female interactions were observed for yield, fiber length and fiber fineness indicating the presence of significant non-additive genetic effects within the group of crosses studied for these traits. Observed male x female interactions for fiber strength, however, were non-significant indicating a predominantly additive genetic component.

The consistent non-significance in lint yield for the estimated location x males x females interactions is interpreted as an indication of potentially increased environmental stability in some F, hybrids.

Combining ability estimates for lint yield tend to support the conclusions that within the group of hybrids studied, specific combining ability accounted for a relatively large proportion of the differences between hybrid yields.

Previously reported levels of heterosis for the traits studied are apparently repeatable in crosses involving modern Upland cotton cultivars.

Description

Keywords

Cytoplasmic male sterility, Cottonseed, Cotton -- Genetics, Heterosis

Citation