Yield and Fiber Quality Potential for F2 Hybrids

W.R. Meredith, Jr.


 
ABSTRACT

Due primarily to the logistics of producing F1 seed, use of heterosis in cotton has been limited: The objective of this study was to research the potential of using F2 hybrids by comparing their yield, fiber quality, and interaction with environments with their parents and F1s. The genetic design was a half-diallel consisting of seven Midsouth parents, 21 F1s, and 21 F2s. The 49 genotypes were grown in-1987 and 1988 it three sites near Stoneville. At each site an April and May planting was made resulting in a total of 12 environments. Yield was determined from 4 replications. Yarn tenacity was determined for two of the 1987 tests and short fiber content was determined from three 1987 tests. Average yield of first harvest was 594,688, and 643 kg ha-1 for the parents, F1s and F2s, respectively; total yield was 953, 1065, 1025 kg ha-1, respectively. The average yarn tenacity was 130, 134, and 132 mN/tex for the parents, and F1 and hybrids, respectively. The F1 and F2 hybrids had significantly less short fibers than the parents. The highest yielding parent was 'DES 119' with an average yield of 1031 kg ha-1 and the most currently used U.S.A. cultivar 'Deltapine 50' was 959 kg ha-1. The highest yielding F-1 hybrids DES 119 X Delcot 344 and DES 119 X 'Coker 81-613' averaged 1145 and 1143 kg ha-1, respectively or about 15% greater yields than the average of DES 119 and Deltapine 50. The F2 hybrids from these two respective crosses averaged 8% higher yields than the average of these two cultivars. No differences in adaptive ability between parents F1s and F2s were detected. The results indicate hybrids have potential of increasing yields and fiber quality in cotton.



Reprinted from 1990 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pg. 69
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998