Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Marker Trait Association for Yield and Fiber Quality-Related Traits in Upland Cotton

Cotton is the most extensively grown non-food crop and its lint serves as a source for textile industries. The diversity in upland cotton (<i>G. hirsutum</i> L.) varieties was low. Hence, genetic diversity and marker trait associations were performed in twenty cotton genotypes. Rasi Magic, Platinum, LHBT 2, LHBT 6 and LHBT 7 recorded highest seed and lint yield. Based on PCA, LHBT 6 and LHBT 7 had higher upper half mean fiber length, uniformity index, fiber strength; Rasi Magic and LHBT 2 had high yield. Seed cotton yield (SCY) showed significantly positive association with number of bolls (NB), number of sympodial branches (NSP), boll weight (BW), ginning out turn (GOT) and plant height (PH). The average polymorphic information content and Shannon’s diversity index value were 0.66 and 1.4 per SSR marker locus respectively. Six clusters and six subpopulation groups were observed; LHBT 16 and LHBT 7 were grouped near checks showing genetic similarity. Association study identified high significant associations in markers, BNL1122 (NB), BNL1227 (NB, BW, Plot yield (PY), SCY, Lint yield (LY)), DPL0852 (BW, PH), JESPR204 (Number of Monopodia), MGHES0012 (Lint index (LI), NB, BW, PY), MGHES0021 (SCY), MGHES0036 (NSP, GOT, LY), MGHES0060 (NSP), MUSS162 (LI) and MUSS193 (LI).