Estimates of Heterosis in Rain Fed Cotton (Gossypium arboreum)

The investigation was undertaken by adopting diallel analysis involving eight diverse parents to estimate extent of heterosis for yield quantitative traits in 28 cross combinations with standard check hybrid PKV DH1. The cross combination JLA-794 x JLA-505 recorded significantly highest heterosis (85.49%) for seed cotton yield/ha. This cross also shared significantly highest heterosis (40%) for bolls per plant and boll weight (13.64%). The cross CINA 363 x JLA-794 recorded positive and significantly highest heterosis (2.81%) for ginning per cent age. The cross combination involving the parents JLA-505 and JLA-794 were found superior for most of the characters; therefore these parents may be used for exploitation of heterosis.