Suitability of Pedigree Method for Improving Seed Cotton Yield and Fiber Quality Traits
Abstract Background: Cotton is grown around the globe for its fiber, which consists of unicellular seed trichome. Converging decent fiber quality and good fiber yield in cotton varieties is crucial for textile industry of any country. Pedigree method is mostly used for developing cotton varieties in Pakistan. Suitability of pedigree method for developing cotton variety is accessed in an experiment. Genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, heritability, co-heritability, genetic advance, mean comparison and correlation analysis was carried out of nine breeding lines of in fifth filial generation. Gene action was thus determined to target the traits for further yield and quality improvement of cotton fiber. Results: Substantial genetic variability existed in F5 lines. Genotypic and phenotypic variances had less differences and phenotypic variances were higher than genotypic variance indicating influence of environment on the final expression of the traits. All traits had medium to high heritability. Seed cotton yield per plant came up with high genetic advance and high heritability indicating additive gene action and can be improved by selection. Mean comparison indicated more variation for GOT% compared to other traits. Correlation analysis indicated selecting more sympodial branches for improving seed cotton yield per plant and selecting more monopodial branches for improving fiber fineness and fiber length. However, co-heritability had high value indicating that all the traits are in balance for improvement. Conclusion: Pedigree method is suitable for improving seed cotton yields and fiber quality. However, statistical check points are recommended with each proceeding generation to apply suitable selection pressure and monitor the gene action for each trait in each generation.