Breeding for Earliness and Yield Components in Some Egyptian Cotton Crosses

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Assiut Univ. Exper. Farm during the three summer seasons of 1997, 1998 and 1999. The basic materials used in this study consisted of two F,-populations stemmed from crosses between three varieties of Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.), namely; Dandara, Giza--83 and Giza--45. The two Fa±-populations, viz. Pop. I (Giza--83 x Dandara) and Pop. II (Giza- 83 x Giza--45) were raised in 1997 season at early and late sowing dates (March 29 and May 2, 1997) Each population was represented by 500 plants in each planting date. The ten earliest plants and the ten vigorous plants were selfed to give the first cycle of pedigree selection for days to first flower and for seed-cotton yield/plant in each population in each planting date. In the same time the ten selected plants of each group were intercrossed to give the first cycle of ten intermated families. In 1998 season, ten plants were selected for earliness (from the group of earliness) and ten plants were selected for seed-cotton yield/plant (from the group of seed-cotton yield) to give the second cycle of pedigree selection in each date. As well as the second cycle of intennating was completed in each planting date for days to first flower and yielding ability. In 1999 season, all the selected families either in early or in late planting were evaluated at early and at late plantings.