Department of Seed Science and Technology, Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad Farm, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India.
The preliminary results of the experiment on female to male planting ratio and staggered sowing of male parent in DHB-290 cotton hybrid seed production conducted during 2001–02 showed shortage of male flowers in 3:1 (female: male) planting ratio. The results of slightly modified experiment of 2002–03 indicated that the planting ratio 2:1 (female: male) and staggered sowing of 25 per cent male one week before female, 25 per cent along with female and 25 per cent each one and two weeks later than female was found to be optimum in order to get better synchronisation of female and male parents by efficient utilisation of male flowers and to obtain higher hybrid seed yield with better quality.
