Genetic Variability Studies in Segregating Populations of Upland Cotton Involving Exotic Parents (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The research work comprising of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance studies for seed cotton yield and its components in two segregating F2 generations of non-Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was carried out during 2012–13 at the Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India. Each cross had an exotic line as one parent. Genetic potential of segregating F2 generations for different parameters revealed that plant height varied from 34 cm to 125 cm, bolls plant per plantfrom 1 to 31 and seed cotton yield perplant from 2g to 72g, across the two populations. High broad sense heritability and genetic gain were recorded for these traits suggesting that rigorous plant selection can be practised to identify desirable plants from these two F2 populations.