Evaluation of a chromosome segment from Gossypium barbadense harboring the fiber length QTL qUHM-Chr.25 in four diverse Upland cotton genetic backgrounds (G. hirsutum)

Authors: BROWN, NINO - University Of Georgia; Kumar, Pawan; SINGH, RIPPY - University Of Georgia; LUBBERS, ED - University Of Georgia; Campbell, Benjamin - Todd; MYERS, GERALD - Louisiana State University; WRIGHT, ROBERT - Texas Tech University; SUBRAMANI, JAY - University Of Arizona; JONES, DON - Cotton, Inc; PATERSON, ANDREW - University Of Georgia; CHEE, PENG - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2019
Publication Date: 11/1/2019
Citation: Brown, N., Kumar, P., Singh, R., Lubbers, E., Campbell, B.T., Myers, G., Wright, R.J., Subramani, J., Jones, D., Paterson, A.H., Chee, P.W. 2019. Evaluation of a chromosome segment from Gossypium barbadense harboring the fiber length QTL qUHM-Chr.25 in four diverse Upland cotton genetic backgrounds (G. hirsutum). Crop Science. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2019.05.0321.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2019.05.0321

Interpretive Summary: Competition with man-made fibers has created additional focus on Upland cotton fiber quality. A narrow genetic base in Upland cotton makes hybridization with related species attractive, however, interspecific hybridization can cause undesirable agronomic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect a fiber length quantitative trait locus (QTL) introgressed from G. barbadense originally identified in Sealand 883 when transferred to four genetic backgrounds, Acala SJ4, Paymaster HS26, Deltapine 50, and Georgia 2004089. Results showed the introgressed QTL increased fiber length across the different genetic backgrounds. Incorporation of this QTL into breeding programs should help to improve cotton fiber quality.

Technical Abstract: Competition with man-made fibers has created additional focus on Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fiber quality, especially upper half mean length (UHML) for industry stakeholders and breeders. A narrow genetic base in Upland cotton makes hybridization with related species attractive, however, interspecific hybridization can cause undesirable agronomic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of qUHM-Chr.25, a QTL introgressed from G. barbadense originally identified in Sealand 883. The QTL was deployed within 4 genetic backgrounds, Acala SJ4, Paymaster HS26, Deltapine 50 (DP50), and Georgia 2004089 (GA089), each of which were chosen based on their representation of adaptation to the 4 major growing regions within the US, the arid Southwest, Texas High Plains, Mississippi Delta, and Southeast, respectively. In near-isogenic state, the effect of qUHM-Chr.25 was significant in the DP50 (1.4 mm) and GA089 (1 mm) backgrounds in trials grown in Tifton, GA in 2014 and 2015. In multi-location testing of single-cross progeny across the cotton belt, 25 randomly selected lines carrying the G. barbadense allele and 25 without the introgression allele from each background, small but significant differences in fiber UHML were observed in the Acala SJ4, DP50, and PM HS26 backgrounds ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. A small number of recombinant genotypes recovered from Paymaster HS2, GA089 backgrounds and development of additional markers within the QTL region, allowed further refinement of the region’s boundaries. Incorporation of this QTL into breeding programs, aided by these newly developed markers should help in the utilization of this introgression to improve cotton fiber quality.