Assessment of production potential of long-linted Gossypium arboreum L. genotypes under different sowing times

Background Gossypium arboreum is one of the cultivated diploids which has inherent resistance against insect pests and diseases, can withstand moisture stress, needs less nutrients and is suitable for erratic, less rainfall and marginal soils. Due to its smaller boll size and poor locule retentivity, adoption of species by farmers is very low. So, best long-linted G. arboreum genotypes with high yielding potential and suitable sowing time will be identified for rainfed tracts of cotton cultivated areas in India. Results The pooled analysis results found that the significantly highest mean seed cotton yield was recorded with Phule Dhanwanthry (1069 kg/ha) which was on par with K12 (1027 kg/ha), DLSA 17 (977 kg/ha) and PA 812 (951 kg/ha). Planting at 4 August yielded the significantly higher seed cotton yield (1345 kg/ha) in comparison with 4 September sowing (536 kg/ha). The interaction results in pooled data revealed that Genotype PA 812 planted at 4 August registered the significantly highest seed cotton yield (1487 kg/ha) which was on par with all genotypes sown on 4 August except PA 402. Amongst long-linted genotypes, PA 760 recorded the significantly highest upper half length (29.9 mm), mean length (24.9 mm) and fibre strength (27.0 g/tex) and fibre quality index (349.7); which was on par with DLSA 17, PA 812 and PA 402. The quality characters had not been influenced significantly by different times of sowing. Conclusions The results concluded that the significantly highest mean seed cotton yield was recorded with Phule Dhanwanthry (1069 kg/ha) which was on par with K12 (1027 kg/ha), DLSA 17 (977 kg/ha) and PA 812 (951 kg/ha). Planting at 4 August found that the significantly higher seed cotton yield (1345 kg/ha) in comparison with 4 September sowing (536 kg/ha). Amongst long-linted genotypes, PA 760 recorded the significantly higher fibre quality index (349.7)