Study on Stability Parameters for Yield and Compact Plant Type Characters in Hybrids Derived from Multiple Cross Derivatives of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and Amenable for HDPS

Stability of 42 F1 hybrids derived by crossing six lines and seven testers in line x tester mating design was studied by planting in three different locations for yield and compact plant traits. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits when tested against pooled deviation and pooled error. The mean squares due to environments (E) was found significant for all the characters except for days to 50% flowering, length of the sympodial branches, boll weight and ginning outturn. Significant interaction of G x E was exhibited by all traits except for days to 50% flowering, number of monopodial branches, leaf area and ginning outturn when tested against pooled deviation, indicating differential behaviour of genotypes in changing environments. The study also revealed the importance of both linear and non-linear components in determining the interaction of genotypes with environment. The cross combinations viz., MC 17-6 x MC 3-2 , MC 4-3 x MC 3-2, MC 16-3 x MC 17-2, MC 23-2 x NH 630, MC 23-2 x MC 3-2 and MC 17-6 x MC 22-2 had shown stable performance over locations for yield along with few compact plant type characters based on stability parameters and could be subjected for further evaluation to develop hybrids amenable for HDPS.