Evaluation of Morphological Parameters of six Upland Nigeria Cotton (Gossypium hirsutuml.) Genotypes

Abstract

This study was carried out to access the variation in morphological and yield parameters among six Nigeria cotton genotypes. A total of six genotypes of cotton; Samcot 8, Samcot 9, Samcot 10 Samcot 11, Samcot 12, and Samcot 13 were evaluated for plant height, number of branches, number of bolls per plant and boll size. Seeds of the six genotypes were raised to maturity in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with five replicates and data were collected following standard procedures. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and results were considered significant at a significance level of 5 %. Results obtained showed significant variations in plant height with Samcot 13 having the highest plant height (106.10 ± 3.83cm) followed by Samcot 9 (103.00± 2.39 cm). The highest monopodialbranch was observed inSamcot 8 (21.40 ± 0.87) while the highest sympodialbranch was observed in Samcot 11 (16.40 ± 0.86). Significant variations were observed in the number of bolls per plant and boll size with Samcot 9 having the highest number of bolls (31.30 ± 3.23) while the least was recorded in Samcot 12 (19.30 ± 3.03). Samcot 8 had the highest boll size (11.25 ± 0.25 cm) while Samcot 11 had the least boll size (9.60 ± 0.28 cm). Yield and yield attributes varied significantly, with different traits been favored by different genotypes. Samcot 9 had the highest weight of bolls (32.17 ± 5.49 g) while the least was observed in Samcot 8 (11.90 ± 1.27 g). Samcot 11 recorded the highest number of seeds per boll (30.68 ± 1.50 g) while the least was recorded in Samcot 9 (26.82 ± 2.49). Samcot 8 has the highest weight of lint per plant (13.66 ± 1.10 g) while the least was recorded in Samcot 13 (6.34 ± 0.89 g). The distinct features of some genotypes in plant height, number of sympodial branches, boll size and weight of lint compared to other genotypes is a good indication of existence of high genetic variability and genotypes with desired characteristicscould be selectedand incorporated into cotton improvement programmes.