ASSOCIATION OF QUALITATIVE AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING TRAITS IN UPLAND COTTON.

Correlation of the qualitative traits like flower shape, boll colour and boll shape was analysed with the yield and fibre quality traits. Ten varieties were crossed. Parents along with hybrids were sown in field in the research area of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Studies revealed that tubular flower shape showed negative association with green boll colour and ovate boll shape. Green boll colour had negative correlation with ovate boll shape. The qualitative traits like flower shape, boll shape and boll colour also act as markers for selection of polygenic traits like fibre quality and boll characteristics. Dark green boll colour showed positive association with plant height, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, number of locales and fibre strength. Green boll colour negatively correlated with tubular flower shape. Round boll shape had positive correlation with number of sympodial branches and boll weight. Ovate boll shape had negative association with fibre fineness and fibre strength. Tubular flower shape had negative association with plant height, number of sympodial branches, number of monopodial branches, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, and number of locules, GOT%, fibre fineness and fibre strength. Bell shape of flower had positive association with staple length. The association of quality with yield contributing traits may be helpful in future for the development of varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]