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Heterosis and Combining Ability in Upland Cotton—Effect on Yield 1
Author(s) -
Hawkins B. S.,
Peacock H. A.,
Ballard W. W.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1965.0011183x000500060018x
Subject(s) - heterosis , biology , yield (engineering) , agronomy , hybrid , physics , thermodynamics
N RECENT years the subject of heterosis, or the maniI festation of he te ros is known as hybr id vigor, has received increased attention from cotton breeders. Heterosis was first utilized in obtaining increased production in asexually propagated plants. Through the use of malesterility, gametocides, and imperfect-flowered plants, heterosis is now used to advantage in many species. Considerable ev idence exists (4) tha t he te ros is is expressed in crosses between Gossypz‘um hiisutum (Upland cotton) and G. barb~rdeizse ( e x t r a l o n g staple cotton). There are indications that heterosis may exist also in crosses among different varieties of Upland cotton and that varieties may vary considerably in combining ability. Data from crosses among three varieties of Upland cotton, in a study begun in 1754 at the Georgia Experiment Station, indicated that appreciable heterosis existed in i n t e r va r i e t a1 crosses. Becauses of these favorable results, a larger study designed to obtain further information on heterosis and combining ability of other varieties was begun in 1756. The purpose of this paper is to report the magnitude of the he te ro t ic effect in crosses among four varieties of Upland cotton.