Heritability and correlation analysis in Bt and non-Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes

The present research was carried out to analysis the heritability and correlation in 24 Bt and nonBt cotton genotypes for yield, yield related and fiber traits, including plant height (cm), first sympodial node number, first effective boll node number, sympodial branches plant -1 , bolls plant -1 , boll weight (g), seed index (g), micronaire value (µg/inch), staple length (mm), ginning outturn percentage and seed cotton yield plant -1 (g). The results exhibited that genotypes differed significantly at P ≤0.01 for all the traits studied. It indicates that the significant genetic diversity among the genotypes for further evaluation. High heritability estimates in broad sense was found for most of the studied traits except 1 st effective boll node number, which displayed moderate heritability estimates. High heritability values for majority of the traits suggested that the variation observed was mainly under genetic control and was less affected by environmental factors, referring the influence of additive gene action for most of the studied traits. Hence, the improvement of these traits can be made through direct phenotypic selection. Among the recorded traits, only four traits i.e. 1 st effective boll node number, sympodial branches plant -1 , bolls plant -1 and ginning outturn percentage developed a significant and positive associations with seed cotton yield plant -1 . Thus, selection for these traits will assist in selecting genotypes with greater seed cotton yield plant -1 .