Table 2. Correlations between RIL, BC, and MPH data in two backcross populations.

Trait	Env.	Between RILs and BC		Between RILs and MPH		Between BC and MPH
		XZ Hybrid	XZV Hybrid	XZ Hybrid	XZV Hybrid	XZ Hybrid	XZV Hybrid
SY	E1	0.24**	0.29**	−0.09	0.11	0.67**	0.77**
	E2	0.23**	0.26**	−0.09	−0.37**	0.72**	0.57**
	E3	0.38**	0.21**	−0.16*	−0.67**	0.65**	0.41**
LY	E1	0.19*	0.32**	−0.05	0.11	0.65**	0.76**
	E2	0.25**	0.30**	−0.03	−0.32**	0.76**	0.57**
	E3	0.42**	0.20**	−0.13	−0.69**	0.67**	0.42**
BNP	E1	0.16*	0.36**	−0.15	−0.22**	0.72**	0.52**
	E2	0.07	0.22**	−0.24**	−0.44**	0.63**	0.57**
	E3	0.30**	0.25**	−0.09	−0.74**	0.73**	0.32**
BW	E1	0.42**	0.54**	−0.13	−0.04	0.62**	0.54**
	E2	0.53**	0.40**	−0.23**	−0.16*	0.51**	0.59**
	E3	0.54**	0.38**	−0.05	−0.05	0.56**	0.62**
LP	E1	0.44**	0.44**	0.09	−0.21**	0.42**	0.53**
	E2	0.66**	0.46**	−0.03	−0.02	0.58**	0.46**
	E3	0.66**	0.46**	−0.22**	−0.19*	0.40**	0.40**

Env., Environment; RIL, recombinant inbred line population; BC, backcross population; MPH, mid-parental heterosis; SY, seed cotton yield; E1, Handan; E2, Cangzhou; E3, Xiangyang; LY, lint yield; BNP, bolls per plant; BW, boll weight; LP, lint percent.

^*P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01.