GENOTYPIC VARIABILITY AND TRAIT ASSOCIATION IN COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.) SEEDLINGS UNDER NORMAL AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS

The genetic variability and correlation parameter studies for seedling traits viz; fresh root length, shoot weight, dry tissue moisture percentage root/shoot ratio in 40 accessions of cotton germplasm, including both local exotic available at different research stations institutes Pakistan were carried out under greenhouse the department Plant Breeding Genetics, University Agriculture, Faisalabad, during year 2006. Sufficient was observed characters like normal water stress conditions. Based on rooting character ratio, three drought-tolerant genotypes 149-F, BH-124 DPL-26 drought susceptible VH-28, FH-945 CIM-446 selected. Correlation coefficients conditions greater than stress, direction correlations most cases remained same. Under (r = 0.72) 0.48) conditions, length positively correlated, indicating a corresponding increase with an vice versa.