ARS | Publication request: EVALUATION OF COTTON FIBER QUALITY QTLS FOR MOLECULAR BREEDING

Submitted to: Genetic Control of Cotton Fiber and Seed Quality Workshop
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: December 6, 2000
Publication Date: January 6, 2001
Citation: Yu, J., Kohel, R.J., Zhang, T. 2001. Evaluation of cotton fiber quality QTLs for molecular breeding. In: Proceedings of the Genetic Control of Cotton Fiber and Seed Quality Workshop, December 5-6, 2000, San Antonio, Texas. p. 175-180.

Interpretive Summary: Changes in spinning technology of the textile industry demand greater fiber cotton quality. Identification of genetic factors responsible for fiber quality improvement has been difficult, limiting the efficiency of cotton breeding effects. Fiber quality is a complex trait with multiple properties, especially fiber strength, length, and fineness. Traditionally, most superior fiber genes were transferred from the extra long staple (ELS) cottons to Upland cottons. With DNA-based molecular markers, we were learning that Upland cottons with relatively low-quality fibers also had good fiber genes. This invited paper reviewed the current status of fiber quality genes (mainly quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in both ELS and Upland cottons. The paper also discussed how to use molecular tools to generate the information that is needed to improve the fiber quality of Upland cottons

Technical Abstract: Improvement of fiber quality properties by genetic manipulation remains a major emphasis in cotton breeding programs. DNA-based molecular markers play an unprecedented role in genetic improvement. The efficiency of molecular breeding can be enhanced by detailed evaluation of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the fiber quality properties. This paper reviews the status of fiber quality QTLs that were identified from extra long stapel (ELS) and Upland cottons. It also discusses the comparative mapping of fiber quality QTLs among different Upland sources. Genomic location of the QTLs, phenotypic variance for, and genetic modes of the individual QTLs, provide detained information for cotton breeders. Molecular markers linked to fiber quality QTLs would facilitate marker-assisted selection (MAS) of these beneficial alleles in cotton breeding programs to engineer highly productive Upland cottons with superior fiber quality.