Diallel Analysis of Improved Cotton Germplasm with High Quality Fiber

A diallel mating system determined general combining ability (GCA), and specific combining ability (SCA) for fiber properties resulting from the crosses of four commercial cultivars, DP 50, DP 491, FM 832, and TAMU CAMD-E, and four experimental line HIL A-106-8, HIL B-147-21, HIL B-182-39, and HIL C-155-22. Broad-sense heritability (H²) was determined from additive variance from an F₂ population grown in Weslaco, TX, and College Station, TX in 2008.  Initial crosses were made in the in 2007. The F₁ generation was planted in a RCB design at College Station in 2007. Preliminary analysis indicates a moderate level of heritability of favorable fiber properties from the experimental lines.