COMPARISON OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.) LINES WITH LOCAL VARIETY OF COTTON FOR HIGHER GROWTH AND YIELD

Abstract

When compared to all other crops, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a crucial cash crop and plays a significant role. Pakistan produces the fourth-most cotton in the world. In Pakistan, cotton is referred to as both white gold and silver fiber. It is cultivated in significant regions of Sindh and Punjab and provides farmers with financial gain. During the Kharif of 2022, an experiment was set up in RCBD. Five newly developed lines (C2246, C-2247, C-2248, C-2249, C-2250, and Koonje (check)) were investigated for their different agronomical characteristics, viz. plant heights (cm), monopodial branches plants-1, sympodial branches plants-1, number of bolls plants-1, staple lengths (mm), seed cotton yields plant-1 (g), seed index (100-seed weights, g), and seed cotton yields (kg ha-1).The results showed that extreme plant heights (112.97 cm) were recorded in (T4 = C-2249), while the least plant heights (106.63 cm) were recorded in (T1 = C2246). The supreme monopodial branches plants-1 (1.6) were recorded in (T5 = C2250), whereas the least monopodial branches plants-1 (1.0) were recorded from (T1 = C-2246). T5 = C-2250 recorded the supreme sympodial branches plants-1 (15.6), while T3 = C-2248 recorded the lowest sympodial branches plants-1 (13.9). T5 = C-2250 recorded the highest number of bolls plants-1 (48.9), while T3 = C-2248 recorded the lowest number of bolls plants-1 (43.6). The extreme staple lengths (29.5 mm) were 
recorded in (T5 = C-2250), and the least staple lengths (26.8 mm) were recorded in (T1 = C-2246). The extreme seed cotton yield plant-1 (86.8 g) was recorded in (T5 = C2250) as compared to all other lines, including the local check. The extreme seed indexes (8.7 g) were recorded in (T5 = C-2250) as compared to other lines and local checks. The maximum seed cotton yields (1004.6 kg ha-1) were recorded in (T5 = C-2250) as compared to other lines and local check. The results showed that the C-2250 strain produced the highest seed and yields of cotton when compared to other strains and the local variety Koonje (check). It is therefore suggested that for higher seed and yield of cotton, the C-2250 strain should be preferred for cultivation in climatic conditions of Tando Jam.