Heterosis for Germination Percentage and Seedling Vigour Index in Inter and Intra Specific Hybrids of Cotton

A good germination and vigorous seedling is associated with higher yield. Therefore germination and seedling vigour has important role in heterosis Nine cultivars, consisting of three cotton hybrids viz. G.Cot.Hy-12, G.Cot.Hy-102 and G.Cot.DH-9 and their respective parents was tested in completely randomized design with four replications. The result indicated that the intraspecific hybrid G.Cot.Hy-12 showed positive heterosis in all parameters, except for moisture content. However, interspecific hybrid G.Cot.Hy-102 showed positive heterosis only in germination percentage and moisture content, while interspecific desi hybrid G.Cot.DH-9 exhibited positive heterosis in all parameters, except in root length and seedling vigour index in which it recorded negative heterosis.