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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Fiber Bioscience Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322839
Title: Comparative phenotypic analysis of Gossypium raimondii with Upland cotton

Author
item Kim, Hee-Jin
item Liu, Yongliang
item Dowd, Michael
item Frelichowski, James - Jim
item Delhom, Christopher - Chris
item Rodgers Iii, James
item Thibodeaux, Devron

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2016
Publication Date: 7/2/2016
Citation: Kim, H.J., Liu, Y., Dowd, M.K., Frelichowski, J.E., Delhom, C.D., Rodgers III, J.E., Thibodeaux, D.P. 2016. Comparative phenotypic analysis of Gossypium raimondii with Upland cotton. Journal of Cotton Science. 20:132-144.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton genome has been first sequenced and assembled in 2012 from a cotton species, G. raimondii. The G. raimondii genome sequence information representing approximately 99.0% of its genome has been the cotton reference genome for cotton research. Despite the availability of its genome, the phenotypic information has not been known due to difficulties of growing and measuring short and unspinnable G. raimondii fibers. To better understand the cotton reference genome, fiber and seed properties were measured with several innovative techniques from the multiple G. raimondii lines that grown at Mexico for a short day condition. The fiber properties and kernel tissue composition compared between G. raimondii and G. hirsutum will help cotton researchers better interpret G. raimondii genome data and apply the findings for improving G. hirsutum.

Technical Abstract: Gossypium raimondii Ulbr., a wild species with a diploid genome, has been sequenced due to its small genome size and sequence similarity with the polyploidy cultivated Gossypium species. Accessibility of the G. raimondii genome has made the species a reference used extensively in cotton genomic and genetic studies. However, phenotypic information on this species is limited because photoperiodicity does not allow the plant to flower outside its native environment and its fiber properties cannot be measured by conventional methods. To help interpret the G. raimondii genomic data, fiber and seed properties from National Cotton Germplasm Collection accessions were measured and compared with reference G. hirsutum cultivars. Fiber length, fineness, cellulose content and seed lint percentage were all significantly reduced in G. raimondii than those in G. hirsutum. In contrast, fiber maturities of the two species were comparable. Spectophotometric properties of G. raimondii fibers were similar to green G. hirsutum cotton fibers but differed from white and brown G. hirsutum cotton fibers. Kernels of G. raimondii were smaller than those of G. hirsutum but their kernel compositions were similar. The results suggest that G. raimondii genome information could be a resource for studying naturally colored cotton, photoperiod, and seed development. Quantitative traits of G. raimondii will help interpreting G. raimondii genome and accelerating comparative genomics approaches among Gossypium species for identifying potential genes regulating fiber and kernel properties.