First cotton hybrid developed in the world (JFR Plant Science 2018)

✅ Explanation:• Pioneering Hybrid: H4, also known as Sankar-4, holds the distinction of being the world's first cotton hybrid developed for commercial cultivation.• Developed in India: It was created in 1970 at the Cotton Research Station in Surat, India by Dr. C.T. Patel, often hailed as the "Father of Hybrid Cotton."• Intra-hirsutum Hybrid: H4 is an intraspecific hybrid, meaning it resulted from crossing two varieties within the same species, Gossypium hirsutum.• Parentage: It was developed by crossing the Gujarat-67 and American Nectariless varieties.• Impact: H4's high yield potential and adaptability led to a significant increase in cotton production, particularly in the Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. This success paved the way for further hybrid cotton research and development worldwide.• Yield: H4 produced about 80 to 100 quintals of Kapas (raw cotton) per hectare, a significant improvement over existing varieties at the time.
📌 Other Options Explanations:• Varalaxmi: This was the world's first interspecific tetraploid hybrid, developed later in Dharwad, Karnataka, India. It resulted from a cross between Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense.