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A line x tester analysis was designed aiming towards the identification of best heterotic crosses for yield, fibre quality and economically important traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The present study was conducted in Department of cotton, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif 2014-15 in a randomized block design. Eighty four crosses obtained by crossing 12 lines with seven testers in line x tester fashion were evaluated for 16 biometric traits. The line F 2617 and the tester TCH 1608 recorded significantly high per se performance for single plant yield. The hybrids viz., TCH 1705-101 x COD 5-1-2, VS-9-S11-1 x KC3, African I-2 x TCH 1705-250, F-2617 x TCH 1608 and VS-9-S11-1 x TCH 1608 registered high mean performance and significant standard heterosis for single plant yield and were identified as the best heterotic crosses. The hybrid VS-9-S11-1  KC3 manifested highest positive significant relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis, while the hybrid TCH 1705-101  COD 5-1-2 recorded highest positive significant standard heterosis for single plant yield. Furthermore, four hybrids viz., TCH 1705-101 x COD 5-1-2, TCH 1705-101 × Surabhi, TCH 1705-152 × BS-1 and TCH 1705-152 × TCH 1608 could well be exploited for crop improvement programme as they registered high per se performance combined with significant standard heterosis for most of the yield and fibre quality traits and hence, could well be exploited for crop improvement programme.
Keywords: Cotton, Line X Tester Analysis, Heterosis, Single Plant Yield.