Unravelling seed oil, protein and fiber density in lintless-fuzzless upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum. L) through combining ability estimates and association studies

An investigation was carried out to understand the gene action for seed oil, seed protein, seed gossypol, seed cotton yield and fiber density through intra-hirsutum crosses. Combining ability and gene action were studied in eighteen hybrids involving six elite varieties as lines (females) and three fuzzless G. hirsutum accessions as testers (males) in Line x Tester analysis. This study revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action on all the traits studied including seed cotton yield. The elite general combiners identified were CO14 for seed oil and seed protein and CO17 and AKH98-81 for fiber per seed and fiber density. The best specific combiner was SVPR4 x AKH98-81 for seed oil, fiber density and seed cotton yield. A correlation study revealed a strong positive association of seed oil content, lint index, micronaire value, fiber per seed and seed fiber density traits with seed cotton yield. This study indicated the possibility of developing high-yielding hybrids with high seed oil, seed protein content and better fiber quality traits through heterosis breeding.