Assessment of New Upland Cotton Genotypes (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for Yield Stability and Adaptability

Nine promising cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) advanced lines viz., MJ-7, FH-115, VH-148, BH-162, SLH-279, CIM-534, NIAB-824, NIAB-884 and PB-899 were evaluated for their yield performance under ten contrasting environments for two years having different agro-climatic conditions in Punjab. The genotypes were evaluated for their mean yield performance and yield stability. Mean square of genotypes, environments and their interactions (GxE) were highly significant (p<0.01). Three genotypes out of nine i.e., PB-899, SLH-279 and VH-148 produced higher seed cotton yield than the grand mean yield. SLH-279 exhibited regression co-efficient close to unity, suggesting that it could successfully be used for general cultivation under different natural conditions. PB-899 produced highest seed cotton yield but its regression co-efficient suggests that it will perform better in less conducive environments for seed cotton yield. NIAB-884 elucidated its stability but would perform better in favorable environment for seed cotton yield. Genotypes MJ-7, BH-162, NIAB-824, FH-115 and CIM-534 had regression values with varying degrees and above average standard deviations. The mean yield performance of these genotypes was lower than the grand mean, suggesting their average stability with poor adaptation to environmental fluctuations.