Selection of upland cotton for the Brazilian semi-arid region under supplementary irrigation

Abstract This study aimed to select cotton genotypes adapted to semi-arid conditions grown with supplementary irrigation. Two experiments were carried out between March and July 2016 in Serra Talhada- Pernambuco and Apodi-Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Eighteen elite genotypes bred by Embrapa Cotton and two controls (BRS 286 and BRS 336) were evaluated under drip and sprinkler irrigation. The experiment consisted of a randomized complete block design with four replications. Agronomic and fiber quality traits were evaluated. The data were subjected to individual and combined analysis of variance, and genotypes were selected by the Mulamba and Mock selection index (1978). The genetic parameters evidenced the possibility of significant gains in the selection process of cotton plants. The four genotypes (CNPA 2006-3052, CNPA 2004-266, CNPA 2006-1073, and CNPA 2005-125) with highest total genetic gains for the studied traits were considered the most promising.