RESEARCH ARTICLE

SABRAO Journal
of Breeding and Genetics
44 (1) 112 - 128, 2012

GENETIC STUDIES IN UPLAND COTTON. III. GENETIC

PARAMETERS, CORRELATION AND PATH ANALYSIS
Jess Rafael MNDEZ-NATERA, Abelardo RONDN,
Jos HERNNDEZ and Jos Fernando MERAZO-PINTO
Departamento de Agronoma, Escuela de Ingeniera Agronmica, Ncleo de Monagas,
Universidad de Oriente, Maturn, Estado Monagas, Venezuela.
E-mail: jmendezn@cantv.net

SUMMARY
The experiment was carried out to determine coefficient of phenotypic, genotypic and
environmental correlations and path coefficients (at genotypic level) between seed
cotton yield and its components in six upland cotton cultivars and their 15 hybrids, and
to determine the coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance of these traits
at Jusepn, Monagas State, Venezuela. Traits with larger coefficients of genotypic
variation were set flowers (24.5%), sympodial branches (20.3%) and at phenotypic
level were set flowers (33.3%) and bolls/plant (32.3%). Broad-sense heritability
estimates were highest for blooming initiation (96.9%), fiber fineness (80.0%) and
stem diameter (64.6%). Expected genetic advances as percentage of the mean were
highest for set flowers (37.0%) and sympodial branches (32.1%). Seed cotton yield ha-1
was significantly positively correlated with bolls/plant at both phenotypic and
environmental level, while at genotypic level the correlation was significant and
positive with fiber length, bolls/plant, flowers/plant, boll weight, sympodial
branches/plant, 100-seed weight, and negative with fiber strength. Path analysis
indicated that components with maximum direct effects on seed cotton yield were
sympodial branches (5.380) and effective boll set (4.993), but these characters being
annulated each other. The character that showed a positive correlation (0.532) and a
direct positive effect (2.397), being not altered by rest of the components was boll
weight, indicating its potential use as a selection criterion to increase the seed cotton
yield.

Keywords: cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, genetic advance, correlation, path

analysis, heritability
Manuscript received: August 26, 2011; Decision on manuscript: December 29, 2011; Manuscript
accepted in revised form: February 1, 2012
Communicating Editor: Naqib Ullah Khan

112

INTRODUCTION
Knowledge of the relation to yield
and its components is invaluable to
the plant breeder in selecting
desirable strains. Since a change in
one character is often accompanied
by changes in several others, and
practical application cannot be
drawn from simple correlation
because they do not provide the
causal basis of such an association.
Hence path coefficient analysis
helps to measure the direct and
indirect effects of characters
influencing yield and also permits a
critical appraisal of factors
influencing a given correlation.
Generally, the magnitude
of heritability is influenced by
variability between populations,
the extent to which a particular
character is affected by prevailing
environmental conditions of that
experiment. Because of this
limitation,
some
workers
questioned
the
wisdom
of
estimating heritability. However, it
can be argued that if a number of
estimates for a certain character
were
made under different
environments, a general idea could
be formulated about range and
magnitude of heritability for that
character. Such general knowledge
would be useful in indicating the
ease or difficulty in attaining
effective selection on the basis of
phenotypic performance.
Heritability
in
itself
provides no indication about the
genetic progress that would result
from selection. However, at a fixed
selection pressure, the amount of
advance varies with magnitude of
heritability. Genetic advance in a
population cannot be predicted

from heritability alone, the genetic

gain for specific selection pressure
has to be worked out.
Several studies had been
carried out on correlation and path
coefficient analysis. Rauf et al.
(2004) computed path coefficients
to estimate the contribution of
individual characters to yield in
cotton, and their findings indicated
that bolls plant and sympodial
branches had significant positive
correlation with seed cotton yield
at genotypic level. However, bolls
per plant had maximum positive
direct effect on seed cotton yield
per plant followed by boll weight;
whereas, internodal length had
maximum negative correlation and
direct effect on seed cotton yield.
Iqbal et al. (2003) conducted a
study on correlation and path
coefficient analysis of earliness in
upland cotton, they found that node
of first fruiting branch, monopodial
and sympodial branches per plant,
flowers and bolls per plant, boll
weight, fiber fineness and fiber
strength were positively and
significantly correlated with yield.
Similarly path coefficient
analysis
also
revealed
that
sympodial branches, flowers, bolls
per plant and boll weight had
maximum direct positive effect on
seed cotton yield, whereas,
monopodial branches per plant,
ginning outturn percentage and
staple length had the direct
negative effects on seed cotton
yield.
Haidar and Khan (1998)
studied path coefficient analysis to
understand the contribution directly
as well as indirectly of each
character to yield of seed cotton,
and their findings indicated that

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SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

bolls per plant and boll weight had

the maximum direct effect on seed
cotton yield. Bolls per plant had
negative indirect effect on boll
weight. However, boll weight had
positive indirect effect on ginning
outturn percentage and negative
indirect effect on bolls per plant
and seeds per boll. The seeds per
boll had negative direct effect on
yield while lint % had very small
positive effect on seed cotton yield.
Also, many investigations
had been made on heritability for
seed cotton yield and other traits.
Basbag and Gencer (2004)
indicated that seed cotton weight
per boll, 100 seed weight, fiber
fineness and fiber strength had high
heritability; bolls per plant had low
heritability, while other characters
had moderate heritability. The
characters with high heritability
suggested some possibilities in
obtaining required genotypes by
selection in early segregating
generations
(F2,
F3);
while
selection for improvement was
delayed due to low heritability for
some characteristics. Basal and
Turgut (2005) mentioned that
moderate heritability estimates
were observed for earliness ratio
(0.53), fiber strength (0.50) seed
cotton weight per boll (0.42) and
lint % (0.40), however, bolls per
plant and seed cotton weight per
plant showed low heritability
estimates,
0.33
and
0.22,
respectively. Khan et al. (2009)
stated that identification and use of
cotton genotypes with better
genetic potential is a continuous
prerequisite for synthesis of
physiologically
efficient
and
genetically superior genotypes
showing promise for increased
production per unit area under a

given set of environments. Hence,

a comprehensive study of genetic
mechanism of the control of plant
characters
under
different
environmental conditions is also an
obligation.
Therefore, the present
study was planned to determine the
coefficient
of
genotypic,
phenotypic and environmental
correlation and path coefficients (at
genotypic level) between seed
cotton yield and its components of
six varieties and their 15 hybrids
(no reciprocals) and to quantify the
coefficient of variation, heritability
and genetic advance of these traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was carried out at
Jusepn Town, Monagas state,
Venezuela. In this trial six
commercial varieties of cotton
were used, viz., L1 = Deltapine-16;
L2 = Tamcot-SP-21; L3 =
Cabuyare; L4 = Stoneville; L5 =
Ospino and L6 = Acala-90-1. The
experiment consisted of two
phases:
Phase I:
The first phase was
denominated phase of crosses, it
was carried out from August to
November (post rainy season) in
the Estacin Experimental de
Sabana (Experimental Station of
Savanna) of the Universidad de
Oriente, Venezuela, located in the
Table of Piedemonte of the plateau
of the Oriental Plains, in a savanna
soil previously cultivated. The
preparation of the soil consisted of
three passes of harrow, lime
application of 1000 kg/ha 30 days
before sowing. The experiment was

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Mndez-Natera et al. (2012)

fertilized with 15-15-15 in a dose

of 600 kg/ha, applied in deep
bands, urea was applied 30 days
after sowing, in a dose of 200
kg/ha, applied in superficial bands.
Two hills of plants were sown for
each one of the used varieties. The
distance between plants was 0.20
m and between hills was 1.0 m.
The hills, with a length of 35.0 m
were divided in 6 segments of 5.0
m each one, separated to each other
by 1.0 m. One of the segments was
dedicated for the self fertilization
and intra-varietal crosses and the
five remaining hills were used to
carry out the crosses with the other
varieties, this with the purpose of
obtaining the hybrid seeds, by
means of diallel crosses excluding
reciprocals to be used in the second
phase.
The crosses began 36 days
after sowing, following the
methodology
described
by
Poehlman (1981). The crosses were
made one day before it was
expected, the flowers opened up.
For that, in first place, the corolla
of the flower of the plant that
would serve as female parent was
cut, with a small scissors, then the
anthers were emasculated, the
stigma protected to avoid the
possibility of cross pollination. The
following day, in the morning, the
pollination was carried out,
collecting the male parent's pollen
in a small piece of closed straw in
one of its ends. This straw piece
partially full with pollen was
placed on the exposed stigma after
removing the protector of the
emasculated flower. To assure the
pollination, the flower bracts were
rose and they were placed
surrounding the straw piece,
getting together with a fine wire so

that they stayed in their place.

Finally, the cross was marked with
a color tape in order to facilitate its
identification. Approximately 40
crosses were made for segment
with an approximate percentage of
success (75%) as reported by
Poehlman (1981).
For these crosses, there
was a bigger emphasis to select
flowers located in middle third of
the plant, which assure a bigger
germination percentage and vigor
(Arturi, 1984). The mature bolls
from the crosses and from the self
fertilization were harvested in two
harvests, 119 and 135 days after
sowing.
Phase II:
The second phase or
evaluation phase was carried out
from May to August (rainy season)
in the Estacin Hortcola de
Produccin Vegetal (Horticultural
Station of Crop Production of the
Universidad de Oriente. Among the
cultural practices carried out in this
phase were: the preparation of the
soil consisted of two passes of
plow, three passes of harrow and
lime application in dose of 1000
kg/ha, 30 days before sowing. The
last pass of harrow was made one
day before sowing, jointly with a
pass to make the furrows. Three
hills of the six upland cotton
cultivars and their 15 hybrids were
sown at a distance of 0.20 m
between plants and 0.80 m between
hills for an equivalent final
population to 62500 plant/ha.
Supplementary irrigation was made
to meet the water requirements of
crop due to absence of rains during
development of the crop. The
cotton plants were fertilized with
15-15-15 in a dose of 600 kg/ha,

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SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

placed in deep bands, urea was

applied in superficial bands 30
days after sowing in a dose of 200
kg/ha. Weeds were controlled
chemically using Round-up in dose
of 4 l/ha in pre-sowing. H1-2000
was also applied in post-emergence
in dose of 2 l/ha, 20 days after
sowing. Two manual cleans were
carried out, 35 and 82 days after
sowing.
The randomized complete
blocks design was used with three
repetitions and 21 treatments (six
upland cotton cultivars and their 15
hybrids). Each treatment was
constituted by three hills of plants,
the two outer two hills were
considered as borders and the
central hill was used for evaluation
of the different parameters.
Coefficients of phenotypic,
genotypic
and
environmental
correlations and partitioning of
genotypic correlations of seed
cotton yield with their component
characters were made by following
Singh and Chaudhary (1977). On
the basis of Table 1, phenotypic
and genotypic variances, their
coefficients,
heritability
and
genetic advance were calculated as
follows:
Genotypic variance (2 ) =
g

M2 - M3
r

Heritability (H %) =

Phenotypic coefficient of variation (P.C.V.) =

___

x 100 or =

x 100

2g

Genotypic coefficient of variation (G.C.V.) =

___

x 100

Genetic advance (G.A.) =

2g
2p

2g
xK
p

xK =
p

K 2
Genetic advance as percentage of the mean =

100
___

___

Where X is the general mean of a

character, K p is the selection
differential
expressed
in
phenotypic standard deviations and
K value was 2.06 at 5% selection
intensity.

(2 + r 2 ) - 2
g
g
g
r

M2
Phenotypic variance (2 ) =
=
p
r

2g

2p

(2 + r 2 )
e
g
r

M2 - M3
x 100
M2

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RESULTS
For all the characters, the
genotypic coefficients of variation
were higher in magnitude as
compared
to
phenotypic
coefficients of variation (Table 2).
High genotypic coefficients of
variability were obtained for set
flowers, sympodial branches, plant
height, seed yield and stem
diameter, while low for fiber
properties viz., index of fiber
uniformity, fiber length and
strength and height of first
sympodial branch. However, high
phenotypic
coefficients
were
obtained
for
set
flowers,
bolls/plant, seed cotton yield, seed
yield and sympodial branches, and
low for fiber properties, viz., fiber
length, strength and fineness and
index of fiber uniformity.
Heritability (broad sense)
varied from 0% (index of fiber
uniformity) to 96.9% (blooming
initiation). Except for blooming
initiation, fiber fineness, stem
diameter, sympodial branches,
plant height and set flowers, all
other characters gave heritability
estimates with less than 50%, with
low to moderate heritability. Four
characters, viz., set flowers,
sympodial branches, plant height
and stem diameter exhibited high
magnitude of genetic advance,
expressed as a percentage of the
mean, whereas, index of fiber
uniformity,
height
of
first
sympodial branch and fiber length
gave low values. These two groups
of traits were also characterized by
high
and
low
genotypic
coefficients
of
variation,
respectively. In other words, the
traits which had the least genotypic
coefficients of variation also had

lowest
expected
genetic
improvement. Seed cotton yield
had a low heritability estimate and
genetic advance of 18.8 and 12.3%,
respectively.
Coefficients of genotypic,
phenotypic and environmental
correlations have been given in
Tables 3, 4 and 5. Significant
genotypic,
phenotypic
and
environmental correlations were
38, 14 and 7, respectively, and
overall genotypic correlation were
higher than phenotypic and
environmental correlations, thus
phenotypic expression seems to
have been lessened by the
influence of environment. At
genotypic level, seed cotton yield
was found to be positively and
significantly correlated with fiber
length, bolls/plant, set flowers, boll
weight, sympodial branches and
100-seed weight and negatively
correlated with fiber strength. At
phenotypic and environmental
levels, seed cotton yield was only
found to be positively and
significantly
correlated
with
bolls/plant.
Path coefficient analysis at
genotypic level (Table 6) indicated
that sympodial branches had the
maximum direct effect (5.380) on
seed cotton yield followed by boll
set (4.993), boll weight (2.397),
100-seed weight (-2.309) and fiber
length (1.610), and the remaining
characters showed negligible direct
effects and less than residual value
(1.424).

DISCUSSION
Apart from fiber properties, height
of first sympodial branch, 100-seed
weight and seeds/boll, all other

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SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

characters were amenable to

improvement through selection due
to their moderate to high values of
genotypic
and
phenotypic
coefficients of variation. Similarly,
some of the previous workers
reported a wide range of genotypic
and phenotypic variability for most
of the characters. Seth and Singh
(1984) reported a wide variation
for boll number, yield and number
of
primary
and
secondary
monopodia. Zhou (1986) reported
that genetic coefficient of variation
for bolls/plant, boll weight and lint
% were 17.2, 10.6 and 4.3%,
respectively. Ali et al. (2009)
found that genotypic, phenotypic
and environmental coefficients of
variability were highest for fiber
fineness (8.0, 13.8 and 11.2%,
respectively) follow by cotton seed
yield, staple length and fiber
strength.
Broad sense heritability
was calculated in order to estimate
the proportion of total variance
attributed to genotypic differences.
The values obtained were generally
moderate to high, with heritability
estimates exceeding 20% in 12 out
18
characters
studied
and
exceeding 50% in six of the 18
characters. Results indicated that
six characters viz., blooming
initiation, fiber fineness, stem
diameter, sympodial branches,
plant height and set flowers,
possessed a wide range of genetic
variability and improvement could
be achieved with mass selection
alone.
Heritability
estimates
encountered in present study were
also common in previous literature.
Sinde and Deshmukh (1985)
observed that heritability was high
for
boll
number,
ginning

percentage, days to flowering and

yield in G. arboreum. Bhatade and
Bhale (1984) grown 7 x 7 diallel
crosses of G. arboreum at 4 sites
and found moderate to high
heritability for ginning outturn and
halo length, but low for seed and
lint indices. Seth and Singh (1984)
in a study with parents, F1, F2 and
F3 from each of five crosses
involving six cotton varieties of G.
hirsutum reported that boll number,
yield and number of primary and
secondary monopodia showed high
broad sense heritability and genetic
advance.
Ali et al. (1998) indicated
that broad sense heritability
estimates were prominent for bolls
per plant, boll weight and yield of
seed cotton and suggested that
improvement in these traits can be
made through selection in early
segregating generations. Naveed et
al. (2004) indicated that broad
sense heritabilities were low to
moderate; and the values were 22%
and 23% for boll weight and lint
%, respectively. For seed cotton
yield, plant height and bolls, the
estimates were being 33%, 35%
and
38%, respectively and
suggested that rigorous plant
selection is required to identify
desirable plants in F2 generation.
Basbag and Gencer (2004) findings
revealed that seed cotton weight
per boll, 100 seed weight, fiber
fineness and fiber strength had high
heritability, bolls per plant had low,
while other traits had moderate
heritability, and characters with
high heritability would speed up
the obtaining desirable genotypes
by selection in early segregating
generations; while selection was
delayed where the heritability was
low. Basal and Turgut (2005)

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Mndez-Natera et al. (2012)

found highest heritability for

earliness ratio, fiber strength, seed
cotton weight per boll and lint %,
and moderate for bolls and seed
cotton weight per plant. Also they
reported that genetic advance as
mean percentage was higher for
fiber fineness followed by staple
length.
In the present study,
heritability (%) and genetic
advance were 16.7 and 3.7% for
seeds per boll and 31.4 and 5.2%
for seed index. These results were
not in agreement with those
reported by Khan et al. (2010) who
stated that heritability estimates
with expected selection response
for seeds per boll were moderate
and desirable with presence of
significant positive correlation,
revealed that cultivars have the
genetic potential to boost up the
seeds per boll, and high heritability
for seed index with valuable
expected selection response and
positive correlation with yield,
exhibited that seed size was
administered
through
genetic
variance and there is space for
improvement in seed size. Batool
et al. (2010) found that heritability
for boll weight (0.97) was high and
genetic variances were found
greater
than
environmental
variances and along with high
heritability it authenticated that
cultivars have the potential to
enhance the boll weight which is
the second main contributor (after
boll number) to seed cotton yield.
Ali et al. (2009) found that among
fiber quality parameters, fiber
elongation possessed highest broad
sense heritability (81.3%) followed
by fiber uniformity ratio (77.4%),
staple length (73.7%) and fiber
strength (62.9%). High heritability

advocated great amount of fixable

and additive gene action in
phenotypic expression of these
characters. However, it was low for
fiber fineness probably due to
involvement of non-genetic effects.
According to Johnson et al.
(1955) high heritability and genetic
advance are usually more helpful in
predicting gain under selection
than heritability estimates alone.
According to Osman and Khirdir
(1974) usually low heritability
coupled with low genetic advance
is an indication of non-additive
gene effects and consequently a
low genetic gain is expected from
selection. On the other hand, an
association of high heritability with
high genetic advance is indicative
of additive gene effects and
consequently a high genetic gain
from
selection
would
be
anticipated. In this study, high
heritability and genetic advance
were found for blooming initiation,
plant height, stem diameter,
sympodial branches and set
flowers. It is therefore suggested
that high magnitude of genetic gain
would result for these characters.
Seed cotton yield/ha had a low
heritability estimate and moderate
advance genetic, so the selection
for high yields could be ineffective.
There
were
more
significant
correlations
at
genotypic level, followed for
phenotypic
ones
and
low
environmental correlations. Results
were in agreement with Desalegn
et al. (2009) who stated that in
most cases, the phenotypic
correlation was lower than
genotypic correlation, showing that
traits were mainly governed by
genetic effects. Similarity, Qayyum
et al. (2010) conducted a diallel

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SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

experiment with eight cotton

varieties and found that genotypic
correlation coefficients were higher
than phenotypic which indicated
less involvement of environmental
effects and genetic causes were
more pronounced in expression of
associations among traits.
Yield was positively and
significantly correlated with fiber
length, bolls/plant, set flowers, boll
weight, sympodial branches and
100-seed weight and negatively
correlated with fiber strength. It
revealed that yield potential was
increased with more prolific plants
(more bolls and flowers per plant)
with more sympodial branches,
heavier seeds and bolls with larger
fibers. With few exceptions, the
total
correlation
coefficients
between
yield
and
yield
components were comparable with
those reported by various workers.
Mndez-Natera (1996) found that
seed cotton yield was positively
and significantly correlated with
bolls/plant, boll weight and fiber
index. Mndez-Natera et al. (1992)
in a step wise regression study
found
that
sympodial
branches/plant contributed with
63% of seed cotton yield variation,
adding 100-seed weight, an
increment of 15% was obtained in
order to predict yield. El-Helw et
al. (1988) and Sandhu et al. (1986)
found a positive and significant
correlation for seed cotton yield
with bolls/plant and boll weight.
Iqbal et al. (2003) indicated that
node of first sympodial branch,
monopodial
and
sympodial
branches plant, flowers and bolls
per plant, boll weight, fiber
fineness and fiber strength were
positively
and
significantly
correlated with yield. The positive

correlation of seed cotton yield

with fiber length have been
reported by Haidar and Khan
(1998), however, indicated a
negative correlation for seed cotton
yield and seed index, being
contrary to our results. Positive
correlation of seed cotton yield
with bolls/plant had also been
found by Hussain et al. (2000) and
Naveed et al. (2004).
More recently, Desalegn et
al. (2009) found that seed cotton
yield was highly and significantly
correlated with lint yield, seeds per
boll, boll weight, lint index, bolls
per plant; and moderately and
significantly correlated with lint %,
while lint yield was highly and
positively correlated with lint %
and seeds per boll, and moderately
correlated with lint index and
negatively correlated with seed
index. Thiyagu et al. (2010) found
that seed cotton yield was
significantly positively correlated
with seven traits i.e. bolls per plant,
sympodial branches per plant, plant
height, 2.5 per cent span length,
bundle strength, seed index and
elongation percentage. Following
these characters, lint index and boll
weight
recorded
positive
correlation with yield. Hence,
selection for these characters will
help in selecting genotypes with
high seed cotton yield per plant.
Path coefficients are an
excellent means to study the direct
and indirect effects of interrelated
components of a complex character
as seed cotton yield/ha. Path
analysis
indicated
that
the
components with the biggest direct
effects on seed cotton yield were
sympodial branches (5.380) and
effective boll set (4.993), but these
characters being annulated each

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Mndez-Natera et al. (2012)

other. The character that showed a

positive correlation (0.532) and a
direct positive effect (2.397), being
not altered by rest of components
was boll weight, indicating its
potential use as a selection criterion
to increase the seed cotton yield/ha.
The moderate residual value
(1.424) obtained from path analysis
indicated that influence of other
characters may also be evaluated.
Results agreed with those reported
by various workers. Schwendiman
(1977) indicated that bolls/plant
and boll weight were the more
important components of seed
cotton yield. Waldia et al. (1979)
in a study with 19 cotton varieties
found that seeds/locule, bolls/plant
and boll weight exhibited a positive
direct effect on seed cotton yield.
According to Thiyagu et al. (2010)
path
coefficients
are
the
subdivision
of
genotypic
correlation
coefficients
of
individual characters with seed
cotton yield. Path coefficient
analysis was done in order to study
the direct and indirect effects of
individual component characters on
dependent variable, seed cotton
yield per plant. Path coefficients
study
enables
breeders
to
concentrate on the variable which
shows high direct effect on seed
cotton yield and ultimately reduce
the time wastage in looking for
more
component
traits
by
restricting selection to one or few
important traits.
Rauf et al. (2004) found
that bolls per plant had maximum
positive direct effect on seed cotton
yield per plant followed by boll
weight; whereas, internodal length
had maximum negative direct
effect on seed cotton yield. Haidar
and Khan (1998) revealed that

bolls per plant and boll weight had

the maximum direct effect on yield
of seed cotton per plant and bolls
per plant had negative indirect
effect on boll weight, while boll
weight had positive indirect effect
on lint % and negative indirect
effect on bolls per plant and seeds
per boll, they suggested that
selection for higher productivity
should be based on higher bolls per
plant and boll weight. Iqbal et al.
(2003)
indicated
that
path
coefficient analysis revealed that
sympodial branches, flowers and
bolls plant and boll weight had
maximum direct positive effect on
yield of seed cotton, whereas, the
traits monopodial branches per
plant, lint % and staple length had
the direct negative effects on seed
cotton yield, they indicated that for
evolving a superior genotype
possessing all the three basic
characteristics (earliness, high
yield and improved fiber quality of
international standard) the breeder
had to use the reciprocal recurrent
selection method or modified back
cross or three way cross within
genetic material under study. The
contradictory
findings
were
reported by Mndez-Natera (1996)
who found a negative direct effect
(-1.63) of boll weight on seed
cotton yield. However, Thiyagu et
al. (2010) observed a very high
positive direct effect for bolls per
plant (1.030) and boll weight
(0.411). The remaining characters
namely 2.5 per cent span length
(0.065), sympodial branches per
plant (0.055), ginning percentage
(0.040), seed index (0.029), fiber
fineness (0.025), uniformity ratio
(0.024), days to 50% flowering
(0.005) and fiber elongation
percentage
(0.002)
recorded

121

SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

positive effect on seed cotton yield,

and most of these results were in
agreement with our findings.

CONCLUSIONS
Traits with larger coefficients of
genotypic variation were set
flowers and sympodial branches
and at phenotypic level were set
flowers and bolls/plant. Broad
sense heritability estimates were
highest for blooming initiation,
fiber fineness and stem diameter.
Expected genetic advances were
highest for set flowers and
sympodial branches. Seed cotton
yield/ha
was
significantly
positively
correlated
with
bolls/plant at phenotypic and
environmental level, while at
genotypic level the correlation was
significant and positive with fiber
length, bolls/plant, flowers/plant,
boll
weight,
sympodial
branches/plant and seed index, and
negative with fiber strength. Path
analysis indicated that yield related
traits with maximum direct effects
on seed cotton yield were
sympodial branches and effective
boll set, but these characters being
annulated each other. However,
boll weight showed positive
correlation and direct positive
effect on yield and not altered by
rest of components and can be used
as a selection criterion to increase
the seed cotton yield.

122

Mndez-Natera et al. (2012)

Table 1. Analysis of variance and the expectations of the

components of variance.
S.O.V.

d.f.

M.S.

Replications

(r-1)

M1

Expected value of
M.S.*
--

Genotypes

(g-1)

M2

r2g + 2e

Error

(r-1)(g-1)

M3

2e

Total

(rg-1)

M1 + M2 + M3

*2g = Genotypic variance, 2e = Error variance,

r = Number of replications

Table 2. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability and genetic advance
for various traits of 6 commercial varieties and 15 hybrids of upland cotton.
Heritability
Characters
GCV
PCV
G.A.
G.A. (%)
(%)
Blooming initiation
7.9
8.0
96.9
9.6 days
15.9
Plant height
16.9
22.4
57.0
25.3 cm
26.3
Stem diameter
14.3
17.8
64.6
0.3 cm
23.6
First fruit branch height
3.5
9.0
14.7
0.7 cm
2.7
Fruit branches
20.3
26.5
58.8
4.9 branches
32.1
100-seed weight
4.5
8.0
31.4
0.6 g
5.2
Seeds per boll
4.4
10.6
16.7
1.1 seeds
3.7
Bolls per plant
12.8
32.3
15.7
1.3 bolls
10.4
Boll weight
7.3
15.0
22.0
0.6 g
6.8
Fruit set
11.2
19.6
32.7
4.2%
13.2
Set flowers
24.5
33.3
53.9
11.4 flowers
37.0
Seed cotton yield
13.8
31.8
18.8
186.3 kg/ha
12.3
Seed yield
14.5
31.0
21.9
135.9 kg/ha
14.0
Fiber content
4.4
9.9
19.4
1.4%
4.0
Fiber length
2.6
4.0
41.2
0.03 inches
2.9
Index of fiber uniformity
0.3
5.4
0.00
0.02%
0.1
Fiber strength
3.1
5.0
37.3
2890 lb/inch2
3.9
Fiber fineness
4.8
5.3
80.0
0.37 mic
8.8
GCV, PCV: Genotypic and Phenotypic coefficient of variation, G.A.: Genetic advance

123

SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

Table 3. Coefficients of genotypic correlation of seed cotton yield with others traits of six commercial varieties and 15 hybrids of upland cotton.
Blooming
100-seed
Fruit
Seeds per
Boll
Fiber
Set
Bolls per
Boll set
Fiber
Characters
Initiation
weight
branches
boll
Weight
content (%)
flowers
plant
(%)
length
Seed cotton yield
-0.203
0.794 *
0.572 *
0.126
0.532 *
-0.347
0.645 *
0.755 *
0.112
0.484 *
Fiber strength
-0.263
-0.400
-0.780 *
-0.618 *
-0.679 *
-0.843 *
-0.837 *
-0.764 *
0.591 *
0.297
Fiber fineness
-0.182
0.413
0.218
-0.419
0.357
0.297
0.123
0.190
-0.472 *
-0.040
Fiber length
-0.300
0.352
-0.298
0.099
-0.760 *
-0.800 *
-0.298
0.165
0.566 *
Boll set
-0.413
-0.437 *
-0.877 *
-0.014
-0.952 *
0.776 *
-0.808 *
-1.000 *
Bolls per plant
0.077
0.573 *
1.000 *
-0.143
1.000 *
-1.000 *
1.000 *
Set flowers
0.329
0.728 *
0.998 *
0.148
1.000 *
-0.923 *
Fiber content
-0.249
-0.312
-0.972 *
0.072
-0.757 *
Boll weight
0.400
0.359
1.000 *
0.231
Seeds per boll
0.497 *
-0.180
-0.075
Fruit branches
0.289
0.706 *
100-seed weight
0.155

Fiber
fineness
-0.034
0.093

Table 4. Coefficients of phenotypic correlation of seed cotton yield with others traits of six commercial varieties and 15 hybrids of upland cotton.
Blooming 100-seed
Fruit
Seeds
Boll
Fiber
Set
Bolls per
Boll
Fiber
Fiber
Characters
Initiation
weight
branches per boll
weight
content (%)
flowers
plant
set (%)
length fineness
Seed cotton yield
-0.057
0.047
0.345
0.240
-0.158
0.253
0.364
0.653 *
0.298
0.130
0.003
Fiber strength
-0.154
-0.389
-0.378
-0.219
-0.388
0.330
-0.375
-0.141
0.249
0.241
0.052
Fiber fineness
-0.162
0.125
0.173
-0.067
0.206
0.044
0.132
0.066
-0.346
0.035
Fiber length
-0.179
0.156
-0.159
0.577 *
-0.385
0.357
-0.119
0.133
0.172
Boll set
-0.240
-0.301
-0.547 *
0.182
-0.679 *
0.560 *
-0.520 *
0.068
Bolls per plant
0.032
0.059
0.595 *
0.171
0.056
-0.037
0.629 *
Set flowers
0.264
0.117
0.916 *
0.030
-0.548 *
-0.495 *
Fiber content
-0.092
-0.067
-0.458 *
0.229
-0.795 *
Boll weight
0.185
0.272
0.532 *
-0.190
Seeds per boll
0.134
-0.043
-0.033
Fruit branches
0.236
0.211
100-seed weight
0.063
* Significant at P 0.05.

Fiber
strength
-0.805 *

Fiber strength
-0.173

124

Mndez-Natera et al. (2012)

Table 5. Coefficients of environmental correlation of seed cotton yield with others traits of six cultivars and 15 hybrids of upland cotton.
Blooming 100-seed
Fruit
Seeds per
Boll
Fiber
Set
Bolls per Boll set
Fiber
Fiber
Characters
initiation
weight branches
boll
Weight content (%) flowers
plant
(%)
length
fineness
Seed cotton yield
0.186
-0.194
0.268
0.264
-0.333
0.394
0.260
0.634 *
0.445
0.002
0.038
Fiber strength
0.027
-0.384
-0.025
-0.089
-0.277
0.146
0.000
0.055
0.062
0.206
0.007
Fiber fineness
-0.069
-0.188
0.087
0.032
0.141
-0.161
0.161
0.003
-0.270
0.153
Fiber length
0.056
0.050
0.009
0.045
-0.234
0.192
0.036
0.180
-0.054
Boll set
-0.031
-0.235
-0.301
0.250
-0.585 *
0.494 *
0.319
0.392
Bolls per plant
0.018
-0.240
0.467 *
0.230
-0.272
0.227
0.509 *
Set flowers
0.226
-0.322
0.812 *
-0.233
0.238
-0.322
Fiber content
0.099
0.013
-0.225
0.263
-0.717 *
Boll weight
0.007
0.243
0.252
-0.291
Seeds per boll
-0.411
-0.003
0.017
Fruit branches
0.160
0.172
100-seed weight
-0.155
* Significant at P 0.05.

Fiber
strength
0.055

125

SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 44 (1) 112-128

Table 6. Direct (diagonal) and indirect effects of yield components on seed cotton yield through path coefficients of six cultivars and 15 hybrids of upland cotton.
Characters

Fiber
strength

Fiber
fineness

Fiber strength
(0.364)
0.123
Fiber fineness
0.034
(1.327)
Fiber length
0.108
-0.053
Boll set
0.215
-0.626
Bolls per plant
-0.278
0.252
Set flowers
-0.305
0.163
Fiber content
-0.307
0.354
Boll weight
-0.247
0.474
Seeds per boll
-0.225
-0.198
Fruit branches
-0.284
0.289
100-seed weight
-0.146
0.548
Blooming initiation
-0.096
-0.242
* Significant at P 0.05. Residual Value : 1.424,

Fiber
length

Boll set Bolls per

Set
Fiber
(%)
plant
flowers content (%)

0.478
2.951
-0.102
0.639
-0.064
-2.357
0.025
-0.094
(1.610)
2.826
0.022
0.228
0.911
(4.993) -0.133
0.617
0.266
-4.993 (0.133) -0.763
-0.480
-4.034
0.133
(-0.763)
1.288
3.874
-0.133
0.703
-1.223
-4.753
0.133
-0.763
0.159
-0.070
-0.021
-0.113
-0.480
-4.379
0.133
-0.762
0.567
-2.182
0.076
-0.556
-0.483
-2.062
0.010
-0.251
Gen. corr : Genotypic correlation

-0.416
0.147
0.395
0.383
-0.493
-0.455
(0.493)
-0.373
0.036
-0.479
-0.154
-0.123

Boll Seeds per

weight
boll
1.628
0.856
-1.822
-2.282
2.397
2.397
-1.814
(2.397)
0.554
2.397
0.860
0.959

0.370
0.089
-0.059
0.008
0.086
-0.089
-0.043
-0.138
(-0.598)
0.045
0.108
-0.297

Fruit
branches

100-seeds
weight

Blooming
initiation

Gen. corr.
with yield

-4.196
1.163
-1.603
-4.718
5.380
5.365
-5.229
5.380
-0.403
(5.380)
3.798
1.555

0.924
-0.954
-0.813
1.009
-1.323
-1.681
0.720
-0.829
0.416
-1.630
(-2.309)
-0.358

-0.312
-0.216
-0.355
-0.489
0.091
0.390
-0.295
0.474
0.589
0.342
0.184
(1.185)

-0.805 *
-0.034 ns
0.484 *
-0.112 ns
0.755 *
0.645 *
-0.347 ns
0.532 *
0.126 ns
0.572 *
0.794 *
-0.203 ns

126

Mndez-Natera et al. (2012)

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