GENE ACTION AND COMBINING ABILITY FOR NEPS AND SEED COAT NEPS IN COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

Information about heritability and combining ability for neps and seed coat neps is necessary for breeding strategies. Seven cotton cultivars including 4 lines and 3 testers were mated in line x tester mating design. The 19 genotypes were grown in RCBD with three replications at Aydın-Turkey conditions in 2014. Non-additive gene action was important in the expression of SCN size, neps count and neps size. The parental lines Carmen and Claudia were good combiners for most neps characteristics. Carmen x Flash, Julia x ST-468, Claudia x Carisma and Gloria x Flash were superior crosses for selection in further generations. It was recommended that the selection of individual plants for neppiness should be performed in later generations (F4-F6).