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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309527

Title: Development of new glandless cotton germplasm

Author
item ZHANG, JINFA - New Mexico State University
item WADEGAERTNER, TOM - Cotton, Inc
item Hughs, Sidney

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2014
Publication Date: 3/15/2014
Citation: Zhang, J., Wadegaertner, T., Hughs, S.E. 2014. Development of new glandless cotton germplasm. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 6-8, 2014, New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 621-631.

Interpretive Summary: In the late 2000s, the Cotton Breeding Program at New Mexico State University (NMSU) initiated a glandless (cotton without gossypol) breeding project aiming at improving both lint yield and fiber quality of existing obsolete varieties of glandless cotton. The objectives of this study were to report: (1) Yield gaps between existing glandless cotton germplasm and commercial cultivars; (2) Progress in direct selection within the existing glandless germplasm; and (3) Progress in cross breeding for high yielding glandless cotton. With the growth in population, increase in drought and salinity land, and reduction of damage in Lepidoptera insects, there is a renewed interest in research and use of glandless cottonseed as food and feed products. This calls for production of glandless cotton which is devoid of toxic gossypol. However, development of glandless cotton that is comparable in yield potential with the current commercial cultivars is the prerequisite for glandless cotton to be economically viable. Field studies have found that yield of existing glandless varieties is significantly lower than current commercial varieties but there is good potential for significant yield improvement through breeding selections.

Technical Abstract: There were intermittent breeding activities for glandless cotton in the U.S. before 2000. The genetic potential in yield of existing/obsolete glandless cotton germplasm may be much lower than commercial transgenic cultivars, but there is no information available. Direct selection within the germplasm may result in improvement of yield, but the yield may not be on a par with commercial cultivars. Therefore, cross breeding is needed. This paper summarized the recent breeding activities for glandless cotton at New Mexico State University, including testing of existing U.S. glandless germplasm and gernplasm introductions, direct selections from these lines, and cross breeding.