Combining Ability Analysis of Yield and Its Component Traits in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Using a Diallel Mating Design
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66432/fvr21578Keywords:
Diallel Analysis, Dominant, Non-Additive, Combining Ability, Reciprocal Effects, HeterosisAbstract
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a valuable fiber crop that is of great economic importance. The genetic basis of the yield-related traits was investigated in this study in a full diallel mating design that involved four parental genotypes (AGC-2, MNH-998, RH-647 and Super Gold) and their twelve F1 hybrids. Characteristics such as plant height, monopod and sym pod branches, bolls per plant, boll weight, lint percentage and seed cotton yield were considered. ANOVA indicated that there was a significant genetic variation across genotypes. The integration of the ability analysis revealed that not only general combining ability (GCA) but also specific combining ability (SCA) played a significant role with non-additive gene action dominating the majority of traits. Some crosses such as AGC-2 × RH-647, AGC-2 × MNH-998 and MNH-998 × RH-647 had high SCA effects and heterotic potential. The existence of important reciprocal effects (RE) indicated the importance of maternal influence. These results indicate that cross breeding and using heterosis is an effective method in enhancing cotton production and fiber-related characteristics.
References
1. Cheng H, He M, Wang Q, Lev L, Song G. Cotton pedigree genome reveals restriction of cultivar-driven strategy in cotton breeding. Genome Biology. 2023;24:282-290.
2. Rehman A, Almas HI, Qayyum A, Peng Z, Qin G, Du X. Mutation breeding in cotton. In: Biotechnologies and genetics in plant mutation breeding. Apple Academic Press; 2023;23-51.
3. International Cotton Advisory Committee. Cotton this month: World cotton lint production in the 2025/26 season estimated at 26 million tons. ICAC. 2026.
4. United States Department of Agriculture. Cotton: World markets and trade. Washington, DC: USDA-FAS. 2026.
5. Pakistan Central Cotton Committee. Monthly cotton review – January 2026. Islamabad, Pakistan: PCCC. 2026.
6. Ali K, Jilani TA, ul Ain N, Ahmed J, Ahmed J. Exploring genetic variation and quantitative parameters in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) by diallel analysis. International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Cutting-Edge Research. 2025;3(4):62-74.
7. Giri RK, Verma SK, Yadav JP. Generation mean analysis for yield and its component traits in diallel population of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. 2020;54(6).
8. Dimitrova V, Koleva M. Inheritance, heterosis and combinatorial ability in Gossypium hirsutum L. × Gossypium barbadense L. interspecific crosses. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science. 2024;30(6):1-27.
9. Ali MA, Abbas A, Younas M, Khan TM, Hassan HM. Genetic bases of some quantitative traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Journal of Plant Omics. 2021;2:91-97.
10. Islam MS, Fang DD, Jenkins JN, Guo J, McCarty JC, Jones DC. Evaluation of genomic selection methods for predicting fiber quality traits in upland cotton. Molecular Genetics and Genomics. 2020;295:67-79.
11. Anwar M, Iqbal MZ, Abro AA, Memon S, Bhutto LA, Memon SA, Peng Y. Interspecific hybridization in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for crop improvement. Agronomy. 2022;12:158-166.
12. Méndez-Natera JR, Rondón A, Hernandez J, Merazo-Pinto JF. Genetic studies in upland cotton II: General and specific combining ability. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. 2025;14(3):617-627.
13. Kumar P, Nimbal S, Budhlakoti N, Singh V, Sangwan RS. Genetic diversity and population structure analysis for morphological traits in upland cotton. Journal of Applied Genetics. 2022;63(1):87-101.
14. Gören HK, Canavar Ö. Genetic analysis of yield and fiber quality traits in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under full and deficit irrigation conditions using full diallel method. Euphytica. 2024;220(7):115.
15. Hayman BI. The analysis of variance of diallel crosses. Biometrics. 1954;10:235-245.
16. Jinks JL. The analysis of continuous variation in a diallel cross of Nicotiana rustica varieties. Genetics. 1954;39:767-788.
17. Steel RGD, Torrie JH, Dickey DA. Principles and procedures of statistics: A biometrical approach. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 1997.
18. Shahzad K, Li X, Qi T, Guo L, Tang H, Zhang X, Wu J. Genetic analysis of yield and fiber quality traits in upland cotton. Journal of Cotton Research. 2019;2(1):14.
19. Yadav JP, Giri RK, Verma SK. Combining ability analysis for yield traits in upland cotton. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 2020;11(2):416-424.
20. Bano M, Bibi A, Bhutta MA, Kanwal S, Sharif MS, Ahmad NH, Amjad I. Estimation of combining ability for within-boll yield components in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Sarhad Journal of Agriculture. 2023;39(1):174-181.
21. Griffing B. Concept of general and specific combining ability in relation to diallel crossing systems. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences. 1956;9:463-493.
22. Abdel-Aty MS, Sorour FA, Yehia WMB, Kotb HMK, Abdelghany AM, Lamlom SF, Abdelsalam NR. Estimating the combining ability and genetic parameters for growth habit, yield and fiber quality traits in some Egyptian cotton crosses. BMC Plant Biology. 2023;23(1):121.
23. Dewdar MD, Ismail SK, Ibrahim A. Role of additive and non-additive gene action effects inheritable economic traits of some wheat genotypes grown under various nitrogen levels. Fayoum Journal of Agricultural Research and Development. 2024;38(4):535-551.
24. Díaz-Valenzuela E, Hernández-Ríos D, Cibrián-Jaramillo A. The role of non-additive gene action on gene expression variation in plant domestication. EvoDevo. 2023;14(1):3.
25. Ma X, Guo W, He L, Cao X. Analysis of combining ability and stability of yield characteristics of upland cotton. PeerJ. 2025;13:19716.
26. Dirbas J, Iqbal MA, Islam MS, Al-Ashkar I, Ali I, El Sabagh A. Diallel mediated hybrid screening by analysis of yield attributes, seed yield and fiber quality in cotton genotypes. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research. 2023;21(5).
27. Chorshanbiev NE, Pardaev EA, Nabiev SM, Azimov AA, Shavkiev JSH, Quziboev AO, Makhmudov TKH. Combining ability and inheritance studies in diallel crosses of the Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). SABRAO Journal of Breeding and Genetics. 2025;57(3):900-910.
28. John BA, Kachapur RM, Naidu G, Talekar SC, Rashid Z, Vivek BS, Gu P. Maternal effects, reciprocal differences and combining ability study for yield traits in maize. PeerJ. 2024;12:e17600.
29. Sprague GF, Tatum LA. General vs. specific combining ability in single crosses of corn. Journal of the American Society of Agronomy. 1942;34:923-932.
30. Udaya V, Saritha HS, Patil RS. Heterosis studies for seed cotton yield and fibre quality traits in upland cotton. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. 2023;57(2).
31. Ujjainkar VV, Patil VD. Diallel analysis for seed cotton yield and fiber quality traits in upland cotton. International Journal of Agriculture Sciences. 2021;0975-3710.
32. Abubakar M, Zahid M, Raheem F, Ain NU, Rafi A, Akram Z, Zainab UR. Genetic variability for earliness traits in upland cotton. Trends in Biotechnology and Plant Sciences. 2024;115-122.
33. Bhatti MH, Yousaf MI, Ghani A, Arshad M, Shehzad A, Mumtaz A, Shah SAS. Assessment of genetic variability and traits association in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). International Journal of Botany Studies. 2020;5(2):148-151.
34. Chakholoma M, Nımbal S, Jaın AJ, Kumar M. Combining ability analysis for yield and fibre quality traits in American cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes. Ekin Journal of Crop Breeding and Genetics. 2022;8(1):61-69.
35. Supritha DR, Patil RS, Kasturi SVH, Patil BR. Genetic dissection of flowering and plant architectural traits in upland cotton. Tropical Plant Biology. 2025;18(1):1.
36. Junaid MD, Abbass A, Meeran MW, Khan TM, Bukhari MS, Rehman AU, Rahman MAU. Investigating gene action and combining ability effects on yield attributes in cotton. Journal of Agriculture and Food. 2025;6(1):150-164.
37. Farooq A, Shakeel A, Saeed A, Farooq J, Rizwan M, Chattha WS, Ramzan Y. Genetic variability predicting breeding potential of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for high temperature tolerance. Journal of Cotton Research. 2023;6(1):7.
38. Soomro AW, Shahzad S, Khan S. Diallel analysis in upland cotton for yield and fiber traits. International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology. 2021;18(1):147-155.
39. Abdel-Aty MS, Youssef-Soad A, Yehia WMB, El-Nawsany RTE, Kotb HMK, Ahmed GA, Abdelsalam NR. Genetic analysis of yield traits in Egyptian cotton crosses (Gossypium barbadense L.) under normal conditions. BMC Plant Biology. 2022;22(1):462.
40. Rani-Chapara SRM, Satish Y. Combining ability studies in cotton for yield and fibre quality parameters. International Journal of Communication Systems. 2020;8(2):523-527.
41. Bankar AH, Sangwan O, Nirania KS, Kumar A, Sagar. Combining ability analysis for seed cotton yield and its attributing traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research. 2020;3(3):321-330.
42. Elhousary ALI. Diallel analysis of some quantitative traits in Egyptian cotton varieties. Annals of Agricultural Science, Moshtohor. 2023;61(1):1-8.
43. Balcı Ş, Çınar VM, Ünay A. Reciprocal effect and inbreeding depression in advanced generations of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) bulk population. Tekirdağ Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi. 2025;22(2):329-336.
44. Khamdullaev S, Nabiev S, Azimov A, Shavkiev J, Yuldashov U. Combining ability of yield components in upland cotton under normal and water-deficit conditions. Plant Cell Biotechnology and Molecular Biology. 2021;22:176-186.
45. Lekshmi LA, Kumar M, Rajeswari S, Raveendran M, Uma D, Manickam S. Assessment of heterotic potential in upland cotton. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 2023;14(2):410-418.
46. Hassan A, Ashraf J, Wahid S, Alyas K, Nisar S, Kanwal S, Nawaz R. Estimation of heterosis and combining ability for yield and fiber related traits in Gossypium hirsutum L. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture. 2024;40:325-334.
47. Joshi B, Singh S, Tiwari GJ, Kumar H, Boopathi NM, Jaiswal S, Jena SN. Genome-wide association study of fiber yield-related traits in upland cotton. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2023;14:1252746.
48. Hussain M, Abbas MH, Majeed A, Minhas WA, Farooq S, Jabran K. The influence of different row spacing and weed control intervals on weed infestation and yield-related traits of cotton. Sustainability. 2022;14(16):9867.
49. Silva RDS, Farias FJ, Teodoro PE, Cavalcanti JJ, Carvalho LPD, Queiroz DR. Phenotypic adaptability and stability of herbaceous cotton genotypes. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental. 2020;24(12):800-805.
50. Richika R, Rajeswari S, Premalatha N, Thirukumaran K. Heterosis and combining ability analysis in interspecific cotton hybrids. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding. 2021;12(3):934-940.
51. Kakar MA, Baloch AW, Sootaher JK, Gandahi N, Chang MS, Khail GFK, Kasi UA. Assessment of genetic divergence and character association in upland cotton. International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology. 2021;18(2):321-327.
52. Hibbiny YA, Ramadan BM, Max MS. Heterosis and combining ability for yield and fiber quality in cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) using half diallel mating system. Menoufia Journal of Plant Production. 2020;5(5):233-248.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Haiqa Mustafa, Dilrabo K. Ernazarova, Climate Smart Cotton: Integrative Genomics, Breeding and Biotechnological Strategies for Sustainable Fiber Production. , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
Similar Articles
- Ramin Munir, Tayyaba Sajid, Mehwish Kanwal, Muhammad Qasim, ZulqarNain, Muhammad Rizwan Shafiq, Sidra Iqbal, Dissecting Key Yield Components in Soybean (Glycine max L.) Genotypes Through Multivariate Analysis , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026)
- Maliha Shah, Saman Khaliq, Mahek Batool Baig, Molecular Characterization of HSP20 and HSP40 Genes Governing Heat Stress Tolerance in Chili , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026)
- Haiqa Mustafa, Dilrabo K. Ernazarova, Climate Smart Cotton: Integrative Genomics, Breeding and Biotechnological Strategies for Sustainable Fiber Production. , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
- Aliza Fatima, Sadia Perveen, Aeman Zia, Evaluation of diversity and estimation of association among various yield related and fiber quality traits in Gossypium hirsutum L. , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
- Sadia Perveen, Aliza Fatima, Aeman Zia, Aniq Ul Rehman, Correlation analysis of several economic traits of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
- Ali Ijaz Ahmed, Muhammad Tayyab, Abdullah Shakeel, Hafiz Mamoon Rehman, Nabeel Shaheen, Sultan Habib Ullah Khan, Iqrar Ahmad Rana, Optimization of LD50 and Induction of Mutation Through EMS in Dalbergia sissoo , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
- Munir Ahmad, Ayesha Batool, Armghan Shahzad, Farhana Khaliq, Evaluation of Wheat Genotypes for Physiological and Yield Related Traits Under Rainfed Conditions , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026)
- Dilrabo Ernazarova, Feruza U. Rafieva, Abdulqahhor Kh. Toshpulatov, Asiya K. Safiullina, Sevara K. Arslanova, Mukhammad T. Khidirov, Madina D. Kholova, Laylo A. Azimova, Fakhriddin N. Kushanov, Chromosome Pairing Behaviour in Intra- and Inter-specific Hybrids of Tetraploid Cotton (Gossypium spp.) , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026)
- Muhammad Kashif Shahzad Sarwar, Muhammad Usman, Samyka Marium, Muhammad Zeeshan, Muhammad Yasin Ashraf, Biochemical Strategies of Cotton Defense: Osmolyte Accumulation and Stability Enhance Resistance to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus , Journal of Genetics and Applied Biotechnology: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.



