ARS | Publication request: Sequencing of the cultivated tetraploid cotton genome

Submitted to: International Cotton Genome Initiative Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 15, 2008
Publication Date: July 8, 2008
Citation: Yu, S., Wang, K., Li, F., Kohel, R.J., Percy, R.G., Yu, J. 2008. Sequencing of the cultivated tetraploid cotton genome - Gossypium hirsutum [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the International Cotton Genome Initiative Workshop, July 8-11, 2008, Anyang, China. p. 4.

Technical Abstract: Cotton is an important cash crop in the world and it plays an irreplaceable role in China’s national economy. Cultivated upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) represents 95% of world cotton production but it has a complex allotetraploid genome that contains at least 30,000 genes in 2,500 Mb DNA. Sequencing of the cultivated upland cotton will make it possible to improve fiber yield and quality directly at the molecular or gene level. Many genes related to fiber yield and quality, are located in this genome, including gene islands on homoeologous chromosomes 12 and 26. The China National Cotton Research Institute (CAAS-CRI), in cooperation with the Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center (USDA-ARS), launched a project of sequencing chromosomes of the upland cotton genetic standard TM-1. With funding support from China’s Ministry of Finance, an initial 10 million RMB was invested in Beijing Genomics Institute to sequence 400 minimum tilling path (MTP) BAC clones that were developed from 3,258 BAC clones on chromosomes 12 and 26 by the BAC to BAC method. Significant progress is being made in DNA sequence assembly and gene annotation of these clones. Detailed results from the upland cotton genome sequencing project and related genomics research areas will be reported.