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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357656
Research Project: Introgression of Novel Resistant Genes and Development of Integrated Production Systems for Managing Reniform Nematodes in Cotton

Location: Crop Genetics Research

Title: Genetic characterization of Gossypium arboreum accession PI 529740 for reniform nematode resistance

Author
item Erpelding, John
item Stetina, Salliana - Sally

Submitted to: Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2019
Publication Date: 5/29/2019
Citation: Erpelding, J.E., Stetina, S.R. 2019. Genetic characterization of Gossypium arboreum accession PI 529740 for reniform nematode resistance. Plant Breeding. 138:871-879. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12715.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12715

Interpretive Summary: Reniform nematode is a microscopic worm that lives in the soil and feeds on the roots of upland cotton plants resulting in lower cotton fiber yields. The nematode is commonly found in the soils in the southeastern United States, which is also the major cotton region. Few options are available to control the nematode. Presently, no commercial upland cotton varieties with nematode resistance are available, so the development of resistant cotton varieties would be the best method of controlling this nematode. Sources of resistance have been frequently identified in the Asiatic cotton germplasm collection. A population of 216 plants was developed by crossing a highly resistant Asiatic cotton variety (PI 529740) with a susceptible Asiatic cotton variety (PI 529729). These plants were infected with reniform nematodes and the roots were evaluated to determine which plants showed resistance. By evaluating these data, it was determined that two genes control resistance. To successfully incorporate this resistance into upland cotton, breeders will have to transfer multiple resistance genes and develop DNA markers associated with these resistance genes to rapidly and reliably select plants with both genes.

Technical Abstract: Breeding for reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) resistance is hindered by the lack of resistance in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Resistance has been frequently identified in accessions from the G. arboreum germplasm collection with accession PI 529740 rated as highly resistant. Accession PI 529740 was crossed with the susceptible G. arboreum accession PI 529729 to develop a F2 population for genetic characterization. The population showed quantitative variation for nematode infection suggesting multiple genes conferred the resistant phenotype. Thirteen of the 216 F2 plants showed resistance similar to the resistant parent and these data supported a two recessive gene model for nematode resistance. Sixty plants were classified as resistant or moderately resistant indicating a single recessive gene conferred the moderately resistant phenotype, which would suggest additive genetic effects for the highly resistant phenotype. The classification of F2:3 families for nematode resistance generally supported the classification of the corresponding F2 plants. This information will aid in the introgression of resistance into upland cotton as larger populations will be required to successfully recover resistance conferred by multiple recessive genes.