GENETIC VARIABILITY AND TRAIT ASSOCIATIONS FOR YIELD AND FIBER QUALITY IN UPLAND COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.)

Muhammad Shafique; Nimra Samad

doi:10.66406/gjab02202580

Authors

Muhammad Shafique Ayyub Agriculture Research Institute, Faisalabad-38000-Pakistan. Author
Nimra Samad Department of Plant Pathology, University of Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66406/gjab02202580

Keywords:

Upland Cotton, Genetic Variability, Yield Components, Fiber Quality, Trait Associations, Gossypium Hirsutum

Abstract

The genetic advance of upland cotton requires a synchronized focus on both yield and fiber quality traits, as these features collectively conclude the crop’s economic value. The current study was piloted at the Cotton Research Section (CRS), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, to gauge 18 cotton genotypes for their agronomic performance and fiber quality. Yield components such as per plant bolls, boll mass, per plant seed cotton yield, seed index and ginning outturn (GOT %) displayed wide variability, with genotypes G6 and G16 recording the highest outcome traits. Traits of fiber excellence i.e., length, strength, micronaire, and uniformity ratio, also exhibited marked genotypic variation. Genotypes G6, G2, and G16 were superior in length (≥32 mm), strength (>30 g tex⁻¹), and uniformity (>85%), while maintaining acceptable micronaire values. The findings emphasize the role of genetic variability and trait associations in guiding cotton improvement strategies.