Pedigree selection for number of bolls/plant in two segregating populations of Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.

2 Cotton Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt. Abstract

Abstract

This work aimed to study the efficiency of pedigree selection for number of bolls/plant to isolate superior families in two segregating population of Egyptian cotton (Giza-90 × Giza-86) and (Giza-95 × Giza-80) in the F2 - F4-generations. The experiments were conducted at South Valley University Experimental Farm, Qena, Egypt during summer seasons 2018 to 2020. Differences among the F4-selected families were highly significant for the selection criterion; number of bolls/plant and all correlated traits after two cycles of selection in both populations. The genetic variability retained after two cycles of selection was greater and sufficient for further cycles of selection of the selection criterion; number of bolls/plant in both populations. However, all studied correlated traits showed greater genotypic variability in both populations after two cycles of selection. After two cycles of selection, number of bolls/plant increased by 10.67 and 12.41% in population I and 10.58 and 17.26% in population II from the better parent and the bulk sample, respectively. Selection for number of bolls/plant was accompanied by favourable decrease in days to first flower in both populations. However, desirable increase for most correlated traits i.e., boll weight, seed cotton yield/plant, lint yield/plant and lint percentage in both populations. Two families; No. 96 and 178 in population I and family No. 60 in population II could be considered the best selected families resulted from selection for number of bolls/plant. Pedigree selection for number of bolls/plant was effective in isolating genotypes for high number of bolls.

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