Abstract: Correlation and path coefficient analyses were made on the main inheritance parameters of 9 earliness and yield characters.The result showed that the early-maturing and high-yielding capacities of varieties spreading at present could be improved through the intensive selection.In the selective strategies of breading of short-season cotton the increasing of boll number per plant and lint percentage should be taken as the point of departure.At the same time the attention should be paid to such characters as lower sympodium node, earlier blooming period, less boll abscission and medium-sized bolls.Among these characters the sympodium node should be.taken as focal point of selection in early generation, such characters as blooming period,boll-setting rate and lint percentage should be selected in large population, and character of boll number per plant should be selected successively.In this way the cotton varieties (lines) with high yield and earliness would be seccessfully cultivated,

Key words: Short-season cotton, Inheritance analysis, High yield, Earliness, Selection strategies