Selection for Increased Lint Yield and Correlated Responses in Upland Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L.¹

Abstract

Three cycles of recurrent selection for increased lint yield in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) have been completed. Yield of the third cycle selections exceeded that of the base population by 29.7%. Response to selection was linear and is predicted to continue at approximately the same rate of gain for an additional cycle.Correlated responses to selection for yield were observed for the majority of the unselected traits measured. As selection increased lint yield, simultaneous increases were observed for lint percentage, number of seed per boll, earliness, fiber elongation, and fiber coarseness. Boll size, seed size, and fiber length and strength decreased. Weight of lint per seed showed little change.There was generally close agreement between predicted and observed responses to selection. This suggests that dominance effects were lacking or of relatively minor importance. Additive genetic effects would appear to predominate in this population, although additive ✕ additive effects cannot be excluded.

Phytochrome RNAi enhances major fibre quality and agronomic traits of the cotton Gossypium hirsutum L

“…To make cotton cultivation sustainable and competitive on the world market, it is imperative to develop early maturing, productive cotton cultivars producing finer (moderately lower micronaire (MIC)) and longer fibres with improved strength 6 . Conventional breeders have faced serious challenges because of negative correlations between fibre quality traits and yield components 6,7 , and between fibre quality and maturity 8 . We hypothesized that phytochrome genes could play a significant role in the regulation of cotton fibre length 9 .…”

Genetic gains from selection for fiber traits in Gossypium hirsutum L.

“…The fiber length is critical for the textile industry and varies greatly among the types of cotton due to their genetic differences (Basra, 2000). In some previous studies, authors have reported little or no genetic gain in fiber length (Miller and Rawlings, 1967;Bridge et al, 1971;Bridge and Meredith, 1983;Culp and Green, 1992). Schwartz and Smith (2008) have reported progress in the improvement of fiber length with the release of new cultivars in the USA.…”

Concept of Heterotic Group and its Exploitation in Hybrid Breeding

“…The recurrent selection procedures are also suggested for often cross pollinated crops by considering cotton as an example (Miller and Rawlings, 1967) and in sorghum (Dogget and Eberhart, 1968) by utilizing male sterility system. Considering the success achieved in commercial exploitation of heterosis in cotton, sorghum, rice and such other often cross pollinated or self-pollinated crops, it is possible to visualize that such schemes of improving combining ability by following the recurrent selection schemes can be very well followed in these crops, with suitable modification in procedure in tune with the mating system of these crops (Patil and Patil, 2003).…”