Evaluation of breeding potential of introgression lines developed from inter-specific crossing between upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and Gossypium barbadense

Interspecific crosses were attempted between Suraj (G. Hirsutum) and Suvin (G. Barbadense) in order to introgress fibre quality genes in elite genotypes of upland cotton. The results of 201BC1F4 individual single plant selections of 19 progenies indicated that the average values of introgression lines for all the yield components except boll number had higher values than the parental gentotypes. The ginning percentage (40.9-47.2%), boll weight (2.5-8.4g) and fibre strength (21.6-31.2 g/tex) indicated genetic improvement of the traits. BC1F4 progenies SPS 32-94, SPS 33-94, SPS 39-94, SPS 45-31, SPS 46-31, SPS 48-31, SPS 49-31 and SPS 50-31 were found to be promising for use in cotton breeding programme.