Evaluation of F1 and F2 Generations for Yield and Yield Components and Fiber Quality Parameters on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Under Werer, Ethiopia Condition

Abstract

                Due to the difficulty of producing F1 hybrid seed, the use of heterosis in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has been limited. This study was conducted on fifteen F1, fifteen F2 and 6 parental genotypes obtained from partial diallel cross of 6 varieties with the objectives of comparing the parents, F1 and F2 generations and to identify the competitive potential of F2 hybrids over the best yielding cultivars for yield component and fiber quality parameters.

                 It was evident to find the seedcotton and lint yield superiority of F1 hybrid over parents and F2 generations. F1 hybrids showed an overall seedcotton yield advantage of F1 over the parental means of 26.4 %, while F2 hybrids were 9.3%. Best F1 hybrids showed 19.5% yield advantage over the best check parent, while best F2 hybrids were only 2.5%. Almost the same pattern was observed for lint yield with the level of heterosis at 28.6, 10.2, 30.4 and 0.8 % for F1 and F2 mid-parent and best parent, respectively. Significant differences were not observed for fiber quality parameters except fiber strength.

                  The result of this study demonstrated the potential of F1 rather than F2 hybrids and the need for further investigation on heterosis and inbreeding depression and development of economically feasible hybrid seed production technology.