Diversity Estimation Of Fiber Related Traits Of Cotton Germplasm Through Multivariate Analysis

The dependence among traits, gene and environmental interaction affects the Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae) crop improvement. The data from 100 cotton genotypes were collected for yield and fiber traits for this purpose. The results revealed notable differences for studied traits. Maximum value for cotton yield was showed by FH-313 (113.50 g/plant). FH-182 showed highest GOT (40.40%) as compared to S-3 which showed lowest (24.23%). MNH-554 (55.40) showed maximum value of mean for number of bolls per plant and lowest for LA-17801. Four PCs with Eigen value more than one were screened through scree plot analysis which contributed 70.1% in total variation. Biplot analysis revealed that total variation exhibited by PC1 was about 28.9%, 17.7% by PC2, 12.9% by PC3, 10.6% by PC4. It was concluded that differences among genotypes for quality and yield traits, higher heritability (97.93%) and genetic advance (33.049) for strength of fiber and height of plant and lower for lint index (54.26%) and boll size (0.67), would be beneficial for cotton breeding programs. Significant correlations among NSB, NB/P, GOT (%), SCY, FS, FL and FF along with greater heritability, genetic advance suggested that choice would be beneficial for enhancement of cotton yield and fiber quality traits among cotton genotypes in Pakistan.