Vol. 11, Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
BR Baraiya, DK Shriwastava, Lekha Ram and Veena Satya

Abstract:
The study was conducted during Kharif season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at AICRP on Cotton, B. M. College of Agriculture, Khandwa in a randomized block design with three replications in rainfed condition. Twenty cotton genotypes were sown at 60 cm row and plant spacing. The presence of ample variation among cotton genotypes for major yield attributing and drought tolerance traits was reflected from high estimates of phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation. The low magnitude of difference between genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation suggested that traits RGR, CGR, NAR, RWC, transpiration rate, proline content, seed index, boll per plant, harvest index, boll weight (g), seed cotton yield (kg/ha), uniformity ratio and ginning per cent were more stable traits for environmental changes. the high heritability estimates and high mean of yield attributing traits viz., boll /plant, boll weight (g), harvest index and seed cotton yield (kg/ha) and physiological growth and drought tolerance traits viz., LAI, RGR, CGR, NAR, RWC, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, LWP and Proline content suggested that selection of parents through these traits may yield better genotypes for drought tolerance. The cotton genotypes JK-4, TCH-1199, TSH-327, AR-9108 and RS-2835 with high RWC, LWP, highest photosynthetic rate and low transpiration rate were found most suitable genotypes for use in further breeding programme for draught tolerant cotton varieties.