ESTIMATION OF HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY EFFECTS FOR YIELD AND FIBER QUALITY TRAITS INCOTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important cash crop worldwide, including Pakistan. the fibre that plays a vital role in Pakistan's economy. devotes major part to enhancing foreign exchange earnings and contributes 65 percent of total annual by exporting raw material finished products cotton. Identifying parents with higher yield contributing traits essential enhance economic yield. The diallel mating design was used because it best tool discriminate between good bad combiners. All crosses showed significant results except number monopodial branches, internodal distance first fruiting branch node. Traits variability were further analyzed for combining ability effects gene action related traits. From NIAB-777 Tipo-1 superior general combiners most Among × Tipo-1, C-1 Shahkar exhibited high SCA. SCA variance genotypes better than GCA RCA variance. information devised really helpful selecting suitable hybrids breeding programs.