Genetic improvement and registration of naturally coloured Gossypium hirsutum cotton genotypes suitable for textile industry (original) (raw)

Breeding efforts were made to improve the naturally coloured Gossypium.hirsutum cotton genotypes with respect to yield and fibre quality through intraspecific, interspecific and three way crosses between coloured and superior white genotypes followed by selections independently in three populations. Stable genotypes with uniform colour and high yield potential and improved fibre qualities were developed. Eight of the 32 advanced coloured genotypes in three populations tested under three replicated trials were superior to white linted check, Sahana (2138 kg/ha) for seed cotton yield. Three of these, dark brown (DDB 12 with 2986 kg/ha, medium brown (DMB 225 with 2934 kg/ha) and green (DGC 78 with 1381 kg/ha) were potential for seed cotton yield and quality in the respective colour. The genotype DDB 12 had 21.6 mm fibre length and 18.6 g/ tex strength; DMB 225(medium brown), had 22.9mm and 20.4 g/tex while green linted DCG 78 had 25.8mm and 22.2g/tex, span length and strength, respecti...