تلخیص
A combining ability study conducted to evaluated 10 parents and 45 hybrids at two locations in Sindh province of Pakistan during 2017 revealed that general combining ability (GCA) variance was higher than specific combining ability (SCA) with greater than unity ratio for all the traits, indicating the role of additive gene action for inheritance of traits. Selection could therefore be performed in early segregating generation. Among the parents, CRIS-129 and Baghdadi were found good general combiner for yield and its components, CIM-602 for lint index, GOT and earliness. USD16-3058, NIAB-824 and FH-142 contributed for staple length, micronaire value and fiber strength, respectively. MAC-7 showing a significant positive GCA effects for healthy plant percentage and a negative effect for diseased plant percentage was measured as resistant against cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV). Genotypes expressing maximum positive GCA affects for different traits could be preferred for selection and utilization in breeding program. Based on SCA effects, cross MNH-886 x Baghdadi was the best specific combiner for plant height, seed and lint indices and staple length, MNH-886 x CIM-602 for bolls plant-1 and bolls open at 90 DAP. FH-142 x CEMB-33 for boll weight, CRIS-129 x NIAB-824 for seed cotton yield plant-1 , and CRIS-129 x MNH-886 for days to 1st flower, bolls formed at 120 DAP and uniformity index. The hybrids NIA-Noori x CIM-602, Baghdadi x CIM-602, NIA-Noori x USD16-3058, MNH-886 x FH-142 that gave significant positive SCA effects for the bolls formed at 90 DAP, bolls open at 120 DAP, micronaire value and fiber strength are suggested for hybrid development programs.