Abstract

A line x tester crossing programme was taken up with seven cytoplasmic male sterile lines and five testers (restorer lines) with a view to obtain best heterotic crosses for seed cotton yield and its attributing traits. Standard heterosis was estimated for yield and its contributing characters in 35 cross combinations. Eight crosses exhibited positive and significant standard heterosis for seed cotton yield per plant. Cross combinations GSHV-97/13 x AKH-7859,4384 x AKH-076R, 4384 x AKH-7859, GJHV-156 x AKH-03-8h and GSHV-97/443 x DR-8 showed highly significant and positive standard heterosis for seed cotton yield per plant. The cross GSHV-97/13 x AKH-7859 also registered high per se performance with significant standard heterosis for number of sympodia per plant and seed index. The crosses exhibited highest heterosis due to increase in number of sympodia per plant and boll number, and boll weight was significantly associated with increase in yield and these crosses could be considered for exploitation of hybrid vigour.