Additive and non-additive effects, Cotton, Diallel analysis, Gene action.
Abstract
Sixty four cross combinations were produced by a complete diallel-mating system with eight varieties (Laokra5.5, DPL-7340-424, Fregobract, Glandless 4195-220, SA100, Stoneville-857, S-14 and B-557). The results showed that non-additive over dominance type of gene action governed the inheritance of number of bolls per plant (Wr + Vr) 30.31ns and boll weight (Wr + Vr) 0.063ns in F1 generation. Additive with partial dominance was operative in the inheritance of seed index (Wr + Vr) 1.30** in F1 generation. Estimates of narrow sense heritability for boll number (0.373 F1 and
0.751 F2), boll weight (0.238 F1, 0.230 F2) & seed index (0.695 F1, 1.042 F2) along with expected genetic gain because of selection, a potentially useful advance in these characters seems possible to achieve by selecting individual plants showing better qualities. Biparental mating in early generation among the selected lines, or diallel selective mating can be adopted in breeding programs for the improvement of the characters studied.
