Diallel Analysis of Fiber Length and Fiber Bundle Strength Using Extra Long Staple Upland, Mutated Upland, and Interspecific Hybrid Germplasm

The quality of upland cotton fiber continues to be improved by breeders, providing longer and stronger cotton fibers capable of producing high-quality spun yarns while withstanding faster processing speeds. HVI and AFIS length measurements and HVI fiber bundle strengths were evaluated in a diallel analysis of ten cotton genotypes representing a wide-genetic base. Genotypes included two TAM ELS Upland lines, two mutated lines of TAM 94L-25, two experimental lines derived through interspecific hybridization, FiberMax 832 as a high quality commercial check, and TAMCOT 22 as an average quality check. Parents and their F₁ progeny without reciprocals were grown near College Station, TX in 2009 and 2010 in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Samples were ginned on laboratory saw gin and sent to Cotton Incorporated for HVI and AFIS evaluation. Data analysis was based on Griffing’s diallel analysis Model 1, Method 2. General combining ability and specific combining ability will be presented comparing all parents individually and as representing groups of the different sources of genetic diversity.