Analysis of decision-making coefficients of three main fiber quality traits for upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The analysis of genetic correlations between fiber length (Len), strength (Str), micronaire, and 12 other traits was conducted using the additive (A)-dominance (D) genetic model, which considers genotype × environment interaction effects, in intraspecific upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) hybrids to effectively improve the quality of cotton cultivars in high planting density cases. Decision-making coefficients were computed based on the genetic correlation and path analysis of three fiber quality traits. The decision-making coefficient analysis of three fiber traits in cross breeding was beneficial for the improvement of Len by increasing the additive effects of Str and length of boll (LB) and decreasing lint percentage (LP), boll number of the top three fruit-bearing branches. The analysis was also beneficial for the improvement of Str and fiber fineness by increasing or decreasing the additive effects of other traits. Utilizing heterosis in hybrids was beneficial to the heterosis of Len by selecting the high dominance effects of number of nodes of the 1st fruit-bearing branch and LB and decreasing the dominance effects of diameter of boll (DB) and LP and for improving Str by increasing the dominance effects of DB and decreasing the dominance effects of number of fruit-bearing branches and number of nodes of the main stem (NNMS). Utilizing heterosis was also beneficial for improving fineness by increasing the dominance effects of LB, Str, and lint yield and decreasing the dominance effects of NNMS and Len.