A study of heterosis over better parent and checks was carried out during 2005–06. GMS based hybrids were generated by utilizing 18 genetic male sterile lines of G. arboreum and 3 testers of G. herbaceum. The hybrids exhibited high heterosis over better parent and varietal check Rahs-14, while they also exhibited considerable heterosis over standard check, Chamtkar-222 and varietal check, DLSa-17, for seed cotton yield (kg/ha). The two hybrids, Million-GMS × Jayadhar and GAKA-423 × H-221 which were recorded significant positive heterosis for seed cotton yield(kg/ha) over standard check Chamatkar-222 also have significant positive heterosis for yield component trait like boll number and fibre quality traits like, 2.5 per cent span length and fibre strength over all the checks. Only few hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis for economic traits like seed index, lint index and ginning outturn, while many hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis for fibre quality traits like 2.5 per cent span length and fibre strength over standard check, Chamatkar-222 and varietal check Rahs-14. The hybrids, GMS-4 × DDhC-11, GAKA-8614 × DDhC-11 and GMS-4 × DDhC-11 recorded significant positive heterosis over standard check, Chamatkar-222 and varietal check Rahs-14 for 2.5 per cent span length and fibre strength.
GMS based hybrids, Heterosis, diploid cotton, economic traits
