Evaluation of a large introgression line population for cottonseed oil and fatty acids

Authors: KANDEL, SAVYATA - New Mexico State University; HOLGUIN, OMAR - New Mexico State University; GALVAN, CLAUDIA - New Mexico State University; ZHU, YI - New Mexico State University; ZHANG, JINFA - New Mexico State University; ABDELRAHEEM, ABDELRAHEEM - New Mexico State University; Zeng, Linghe; DEVER, JANE - Clemson University; KELLY, CAROL - Texas A&M Agrilife; Whitelock, Derek

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2025
Publication Date: 4/9/2025
Citation: Kandel, S., Holguin, O., Galvan, C., Zhu, Y., Zhang, J., Abdelraheem, A., Zeng, L., Dever, J., Kelly, C., Whitelock, D.P. 2025. Evaluation of a large introgression line population for cottonseed oil and fatty acids. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, New Orleans, LA, January 14-16, 2025. 1 p.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most important fiber crop and an important oilseed crop in the world, and cottonseed produces approximately 15% of the farm-gate value in cotton production. Therefore, enhancement of cottonseed oil quantity and quality can significantly increase the economic return of cotton production for the producer from the same land use and the same investment. However, genetic variation in cottonseed oil and fatty acid contents is highly limited within Upland cotton, limiting the genetic gain in cottonseed oil quantity and quality through breeding. Introgression breeding can alleviate this bottleneck effect by introducing desirable genes from Pima cotton (G. barbadense) to Upland cotton. The objective of this study was to evaluate a large introgression line (IL) population for cottonseed oil and fatty acids and select promising ILs with high oil and improved fatty acid profiles. A population of 1500 introgression lines (ILs), developed from a cross between Acala 1517-99 and a Pima cotton parent at New Mexico State University, was grown in Las Cruces, NM in 2022-2024 and Stoneville, MS and Lubbock, TX in 2023-2024. Cottonseed oil and major fatty acids were measured by analyzing the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) through gas chromatography (GC-FID), in addition to evaluation of cotton yield, yield component traits, seed size, and fiber quality properties. Correlation, principal component and cluster analyses were performed to understand the relationships in traits and ILs. There was a high level of variation in cottonseed oil and fatty acids among the ILs tested. Cottonseed oil content was positively correlated with oleic and stearic acid contents and negatively correlated with palmitic acid content. The cluster analysis identified a group of ILs with the highest average oil and oleic acid. As a result, ILs with high oil and oleic acid were identified for further testing and analysis toward the development of high-quality cottonseed oil with high oil content, high lint yield, and improved fiber quality.