Genetic analysis for developmental behavior of some seed quality traits in Upland cotton (Gossypum hirsutum L.)

Analysis of genetic main effects and GE interaction effects for oil index (OID), protein index (PID), and lysine index (LID) of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were conducted for 2-yr diallel cross data by using a seed genetic model. Analysis approaches of unconditional and conditional variances and correlations were employed to evaluate developmental behavior of cottonseed. The phenotypic means were relatively larger for F2 generation than F1 generation, and larger for all generations in 1993 than in 1994. The results of variance analysis indicated that OID, PID, and LID were simultaneously controlled by seed nuclear, cytoplasm, and maternal nuclear effects. Genetic effects due to maternal nuclear were relatively more important at whole developmental period. GE interaction effects were the main contribution to the total variation of OID at first two stages, of PID at the forth stage, and of LID across all four stages, respectively. Not only the phenotypic correlation coefficients but also the coefficients due to different genetic effects varied significantly between traits themselves at various stages. Different genetic effects caused the variation of the correlationship between traits themselves at various stages.