BREEDING SUITABLE PLANT TYPE FOR HIGH PRODUCTIVITY IN UPLAND COTTON (GOSSYPIUM-HIRSUTUM)

Genetic variability from intra-specific crosses of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was generated for plant height, biological yield, seed-cotton yield and harvest index during 1988-90. Some of the medium tall sympodial types with more boll (19.7-25.5) and boll weight (4.6-5.0 g) were developed with higher harvest index (30.0-37.0%) and seed-cotton yield.'Pusa 8-1-32', 'Pusa 8-6-26', 'Pusa 8-6-31', 'Pusa 26-6-8', 'Pusa 45-3-6-99', 'Pusa 49-4-8-5-3' and 'Pusa 54-3-1-40' gave higher seed-cotton yield (2.52-2.828 tonnes/ha) than the control variety 'H 777' (1.71 tonnes/ha). The 3 different plant types ('Pusa 3-39-1', 'Pusa 8-6-26','Pusa 45-3-6-99') also showed significant interaction for seed-cotton yield with 3 population levels when tested during rainy season of 1990.'Pusa 8-6-26' with medium height and sympodial habit gave the highest yield of 2.83 tonnes/ha with 66 600 plants/ha, whereas 'Pusa 45- 3-6-99' With tall monopodial habit gave the highest yield (2.80 tonnes/ha) under normal plant population (44 400/ha). 'Pusa 3-39-1' gave lower yield than these 2 strains under all the 3 plant densities.