Abstract
To develop genotypes that can yield, better under water stress conditions, plant breeders must have knowledge about gene
action and combining abilities of parents for various quantitative traits related to drought tolerance. The objective of the study
was to provoke genetic information which may be used in cotton breeding program to enhance drought tolerance. Thirty cotton
genotypes were screened on the basis of root and shoot length at seedling stage in glasshouse. Ten cotton genotypes namely
NIAB-111, CP-15/2, BH-160, CIM-1100, CRIS-134, CIM-446, FH-900, MNH-93, CIM-707 and CIM-482 were declared to
be drought tolerant due to overwhelming performance. In contrast, CIM-506, NIAB Karishma, MNH-129, FH-1000, S-12 and
Acala-1517C were identified as drought sensitive, later on they were hybridized following Line × Tester mating fashion.
Breeding potential of sixty families along with parents was assessed for plant height, monopodial branches per plant, sympodial
branches per plant, number of bolls per plant, seed index, uniformity index and excised leaf water loss. Analysis of variance
revealed the predominance of non-additive genetic effects in the inheritance of characters studied. The plants selected in early
segregating generation may not be dependable, but selection at later segregating generations may show good level of tolerance
to water stress
