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The aim of this study was to estimate the general combining ability of the parents and specific combining ability of hybrids considered for the development of high yielding cultivars. Nineteen genotypes and 60 F1 hybrids obtained by crossing 15 lines and 4 testers in line-tester mating system during Kharif 2014 were sown in randomized complete block design in Kharif 2015. Line-Tester analysis revealed significant GCA and SCA effects for all the traits except plant height. Preponderance of non-additive gene action was obtained for seed cotton yield per plant and majority of its component traits. Among the parents: H1156 for days to first flowering, H1471 for plant height, AC726 for monopods per plant, H1464 for boll weight, H476 for seeds per boll and H1470 for seed cotton yield per plant, bolls per plant and sympods per plant were detected with higher general combining ability. The hybrids achieved high seed cotton yield by producing more number of open bolls and boll weight. The significant SCA affects were recorded for seed cotton yield from the cross combination AC726 x H1236, H1476 x H1226, Luxmi PKV X H1226, H1470 X H 1098-I and H1470 X H1236. These cross combinations involved at least one parent with high or average GCA effect for a particular trait. The cross combination involving H1470 and H1236 parents recorded significant positive SCA effect for yield contributing characters. Thus, the parents H1470 and H1236 can be used for hybrid development programme. The study also revealed good scope for commercial hybrid development as well as isolation of pure lines among the progenies.
Keywords: Gossypium hirsutum, GCA, SCA, Line x tester analysis