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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179163
Title: REGISTRATION OF 14 PRIMITIVE DERIVED COTTON GERMPLASM LINES WITH IMPROVED FIBER STRENGTH

Author
item McCarty, Jack
item Jenkins, Johnie

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2005
Publication Date: 11/1/2005
Citation: McCarty Jr., J.C., Jenkins, J.N. 2005. Registration of 14 primitive derived cotton germplasm lines with improved fiber strength. Crop Science. 45:2668.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton fiber quality needs improvement to meet market demands. Genetic variability for desirable fiber quality traits is required. The primitive accessions of cotton contains this variability; however, the flowering response of many of the accessions is day-length dependent. The failure to flower and set fruit under the long-day regime of the growing season is a hurdle to the utilization of these accessions. Four accessions have been converted to day-neutrality, which do not require short days to initiate flowering. From these four accessions 14 germplasm lines have been selected which have improved fiber strength. Fiber strength exceeded that of standard cultivars by 20% or more. These diverse day-neutral germplasm lines are available to improve cotton fiber strength and to expand its genetic base.

Technical Abstract: Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., fiber quality must be improved to meet textile mill requirements. Strength is an important component of fiber quality. Collections of primitive cotton accessions offer sources of genetic variability for fiber strength; however, many of the accessions are photoperiodic. The utilization of accessions has been limited because of the photoperiodic response. Four accessions have been converted to day-neutrality from which 14 lines have been selected for improved fiber strength. When evaluated in field trials the 14 germplasm lines had lower yield and lint percent compared to check cultivars. Three lines had lower fiber micronaire than checks while other germplasm lines were equal or higher than cultivars. Percent fiber elongation was lower than cultivars. Eight of the germplasm lines had fibers shorter than checks while two had fibers longer than checks. Fiber strength measured by single instrument was improved as much as 20% or more over check cultivars. These lines represent diverse day-neutral germplasm with improved fiber strength that is readily useable in cotton breeding programs.