Studies on genetic divergence in intrahirsutum hybrids of early segregating generation (f3) in upland cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.)

Genetic Divergence in 86 intrahirsutum lines in early segregating generation genotypes was studied for 15 yield attributes and quality characters. The pattern of grouping of genotypes revealed that the genetic divergence was not fully related to the geographical diversity. The inter cluster distances were found to be greater than intra cluster distances, revealing considerable amount of genetic diversity among the genotypes studied. Inter cluster distances, cluster for all the characters studied and cluster wise performance of all the genotypes suggested that the genotypes selected for improvement of yield and quality components were divergent in terms  of characters studied. The hybridization program with the selected genotypes by considering inter cluster distances may produce high magnitude of heterosis or desirable segregants, which would be meaningful for improvement in yield and quality attributes of cotton