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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309346
Title: Genetic variation and selection within glandless cotton germplasm

Author
item ZHANG, JINFA - New Mexico State University
item IDOWU, OMOLOLU - New Mexico State University
item FLYNN, ROBERT - New Mexico State University
item WEDEGAERTNER, TOM - Cotton, Inc
item Hughs, Sidney

Submitted to: Euphytica International Journal on Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2014
Publication Date: 7/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60683
Citation: Zhang, J., Idowu, O.J., Flynn, R., Wedegaertner, T., Hughs, S.E. 2015. Genetic variation and selection within glandless cotton germplasm. Euphytica International Journal on Plant Breeding. 198:59-67.

Interpretive Summary: There is interest in the cotton industry to develop a commercially viable glandless (free of gossypol) cotton that can produce high protein seed that is directly useable for both human and animal consumption while maintaining competitive fiber yields. Information was needed on the possible yield potential of existing glandless germplasm (most of it obsolete). This is a report on a series of tests that evaluated the potential of increasing glandless cotton fiber yield to be competitive with current glanded cotton varieties. Some glandless germplasm was found that genetically had the potential to be yield competitive in both fiber yield as well as fiber quality. Further selections can potentially be made from this germplasm to develop a high quality commercial glandless cotton variety.

Technical Abstract: There is a renewed interest in research and use of glandless (free of gossypol) cotton that can produce edible seeds for human food and animal feed. However, there was a lack of information on yield potential of existing glandless germplasm since intermittent breeding activities for glandless cotton were stopped in the U.S. before 2000. The objectives of the present study were to test obsolete and exotic glandless germplasm for possible production and evaluate progress in direct pedigree selection within the existing glandless germplasm in eight field tests. In multiple tests, the glandless cotton Acala GLS yielded only 65-80% lint of the glanded control Acala 1517-08 and 46-75% lint of commercial transgenic cultivars. Most of obsolete glandless germplasm and their selections yielded less than 70% of Acala 1517-08 and only three selections yielded 82-89% of the control. Genetic variation in yield and fiber quality traits was seen from significant differences between selections within the same glandless germplasm, indicating the existence of residual genetic variation. Most importantly, three selections from exotic glandless germplasm out-yielded Acala 1517-08 by 4-9%, one of which had desirable fiber quality traits. These promising glandless lines with comparable yields to commercial cotton make it possible to revitalize the glandless cotton industry. More field tests will be needed to evaluate their yield potential and adaptability in the U.S. Cotton Belt.