ARS | Publication request: QTL ASSOCIATED WITH AGRONOMIC AND FIBER TRAITS OF UPLAND COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.)

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 6, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Fiber quality is very important in the production of cotton products. Genetics is primarily responsible for fiber quality. Most quality parameters are controlled by quantitative trais (i.e. many genes each with small effects). We know very little about where these genes are located on the chromosomes of cotton. The use of molecular markers offer a new way to tag fiber quality genes. This research explored the relationship between molecular markers and genes for fiber quality in cotton. We analyzed 19 fiber and agronomic traits across 96 families from a cross of two Gossypium hirsutum L. cultivars. We found and mapped 103 quantitative trait loci (QTL) at 53 chromosome positions in 19 linkage groups. The number of QTL for a trait varied from 1 for 2.5% span length to 16 for seed index. Several QTL were closely linked to molecular markers which should be very useful in marker assisted selection for these traits. This is the first report of QTL loci and molecular marker associations in a cross of two G. hirsutum cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for agronomic and fiber traits in upland cotton and their association with molecular markers would be useful in cotton breeding. We used the mixed model approach to analyze 19 agronomic and fiber traits across 96 F2 derived families from the cross of two Gossypium hirsutum L. lines, 'HS 46' X MARCABUCAG8US-1-88. The fiber and agronomic traits, except seed index and bloom rate, were measured in F2 derived F5 families. We mapped 103 QTL to 53 map positions in 19 linkage groups. Most QTL influenced more than one trait. The number of QTL for a trait ranged from 1 for 2.5% span length to 16 for seed index. Several QTL were closely linked to RFLP molecular markers; however, some QTL were identified that were not closely linked to RFLP markers.