Primary root length, Secondary root number, Root volume, Total root length, Root thickness, Root dry weight and Root: Shoot ratio were examined in 30 Gossypium hirsutum cotton genotypes at 75 days after planting (15 days after water stress induction) during 2012-13 at Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad farm. The genotypes viz., RDT 17, CPD 14 - 3, CPD 14 - 2, CPD 14 - 5 and CPD 14 - 1 exhibited higher primary root length, secondary root number, root volume, dry root weight and root: shoot ratio in water stress condition. Therefore they may be considered as suitable genetic resources in water stress resistant breeding. In contrast G. cot - 16, RHC 0811, HLS 321729, EC 560392 and CPD 464 showed drastic reduction in primary root length, secondary root number, root dry weight and total root length in water stress condition. Higher broad- sense heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean were observed for secondary root number, root thickness and root dry weight. They are potential traits for genetic improvement through pedigree breeding method of selection in water stress resistant breeding. The genotypic correlations among primary root length, secondary root number, root volume, root dry weight, total root length and root: shoot ratio were significantly positive in water stress condition. Thus, any one of such traits can be used as water stress tolerance selection indices in water stress resistant breeding owing to the absence of undesired relationships among these traits.