High yield potential is important to the plant breeder in developing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars and F hybrids. Good stand establishment and vigorous seedling growth is required to realize optimum yields. The objective of this study was to compare F hybrid cotton lines with their parents, Fl and F3 populations for seed, seedling characteristics, and yield. For this experiment, populations from five crosses were evaluated in a randomized complete block design under field conditions in 1991.

For the five crosses examined, three crosses showed significant differences among generations. The traits found to be significant were seedling dry weight and lint yield. Dry weight of ten seedlings for Fl, F, and F3 was intermediate to that of the parents. In three crosses, dry weight of seedlings was higher than the high parent, but it was not significant. Lint-yield of F hybrids was higher than the high yielding parent. Results suggests that F cotton seedlings may accumulate dry matter more quickly than conventional varieties. This may be an indication of more vigorous seedling growth in F hybrids as compared to parental hybrids.