Vol. 9, Special Issue 8, Part Q (2025)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) represents the most extensively used natural fiber crop in the global textile sector. Evaluating genetic diversity within cotton genotypes is essential for advancing breeding programs and enhancing genetic improvement efforts. In the present investigation, genetic divergence among 50 cotton genotypes was examined using Mahalanobis D² statistics, canonical analysis, and cluster analysis.

The analysis of variance indicated that the genotypes differed significantly for all the traits under investigation. Results from canonical root analysis showed that the first four vectors together explained 84.76% of the total variability. Vector I and Vector II exhibited high positive loadings for seed cotton yield per plant, while Vector III was primarily associated with fiber fineness. Cluster IV displayed strong positive loadings for days to 50% boll bursting. Among the studied traits, seed cotton yield per plant emerged as the major contributor to genetic divergence, followed by fiber fineness, halo length, and ginning percentage. Based on cluster analysis, the 50 genotypes were grouped into seven distinct clusters. Cluster I was the largest, comprising thirty-four genotypes, whereas Cluster II included seven genotypes. Clusters III and V each consisted of three genotypes, and Clusters IV, VI, and VII contained a single genotype each. Clusters VI and VII showed the greatest genetic divergence (D = 17.31); thus, hybridization between AkBt-133 and AkBt-27 may generate heterotic recombinants valuable for cotton improvement.”