Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Field Crops Research, cilt.326, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Context: Understanding the genetic progress in yield and its components is crucial for the effective planning of future research. However, no study has been conducted to examine the genetic progress in yield and yield components of cotton varieties released in Türkiye. Objectives: In this context, the objectives of this study were to estimate the contribution of cotton breeding programs to the genetic improvement of fiber yield and its components in Türkiye, and moreover, to examine changes in yield components and their relationships with fiber yield. Methods: Ninety-eight cotton varieties released in Türkiye between 1964 and 2013 were evaluated in field experiments during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Results: Fiber yields varied significantly among the varieties. Linear regression analysis revealed a highly significant positive relationship between fiber yield and the year of release (P < 0.001). Over the 50-year period from 1964 to 2013, cotton breeding programs achieved an annual increase of 1.07 % or 14.42 kg ha⁻¹. Additionally, fiber yield was positively correlated with the boll number (0.802) and the ginning percentage (0.536), while negatively correlated with plant height (-0.367) and seed index (-0.407). Conclusions: Improvement in fiber yield was mainly associated with an increase in the boll number and ginning percentage. Some key correlations were identified between fiber yield and its components. These relationships offer valuable insights into which traits can be enhanced concurrently in future breeding programs.