Project Number: 6406-21000-012-26
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 01, 2005
End Date: Dec 31, 2008

Objective:
Develop improved populations via breakage of undesirable linkages and accumulation of desirable alleles. Evaluate the effects of cycles of random mating on reduction of adverse genetic correlations. Assess the effects of random mating on genetic recombination. Estimate linkage disequilibrium using SSR markers in an improved population after several cycles of random mating. Compare the effectiveness of insect versus hand pollination for the development of random mating populations.

Approach:
A set of parents will be chosen for this study and will include exotic germplasm, day-neutral converted lines, obsolete, and commercial cultivars. Criteria for choice of parents will be lack of genetic relatedness to other parents, proven agronomic value, pest resistance traits, and adaptation to Mid South and Southeast USA. Coefficient of parentage will be examined and about 450 markers will be used to fingerprint parents. Some markers with known assignments to chromosome will be used. Cotton lines will be crossed in a half dialle, bulking reciprocals, at Mississippi State, MS, and Raleigh, NC. F1 seed will be grown in Tecoman, Mexico Winter Nursery where random mating will be done. Testing of yield and other agronomic and fiber taits will commence after four cycles of random mating.