Observed Genetic Gain from Selection in Egyptian Cotton (G. barbadense L) Under Normal and Saline Soils Mahdy, E.E. 1*, H. Mahrous 2, M.A. Sayed 1 and M.G. Housein 2 1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

2 Cotton Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Salinity limits plant growth and progressively decreases the optimal yield of crops worldwide. This work aimed to compare the efficiency of single trait selection and independent culling levels (ICL) for six traits in improving the seed cotton yield (SCY/P) under normal and saline soils. The genetic material was the F2-population of the cross-G.90× G.86 (long staple). Two experiments were carried out at normal and saline soils (EC about 13). The performance of different traits under normal soil were better than under salinity stress. The correlations indicated that the high yielding plants were early, high in fiber length, strength, and fineness under both environments. Days to first flower showed negative correlation with all traits except Pressley index under both environments. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variability were greatly depleted by selection. Narrow sense heritability (h2) in single trait selection was higher at stress than at normal soil when selection practiced at normal soil, and vice versa for selection at saline soil. In the ICL method the h2 was higher at normal soil evaluation than at saline soil for selection at both environments. Single trait selection proved that selection under optimum environment performed well under optimum, and selection under stress was better under stress. Otherwise, ICL method of selection did well under salinity stress. These results agree with the opinion of selection under the environment of production.

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