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Title: Genetic aspects of the (+) gossypol at ecologically remote hybrids of cotton

Author
item NAMAZOV, SH. R.A. - Uzbekistan Cotton Research Institute
item GOLUBENKO, YULDASHEVA - Uzbekistan Cotton Research Institute
item Stipanovic, Robert - Bob
item Bell, Alois - Al

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2008
Publication Date: 3/15/2008
Citation: Namazov, S., Golubenko, Y.Z., Stipanovic, R.D., Bell, A.A. 2008. Genetic aspects of the (+) gossypol at ecologically remote hybrids of cotton. Bulletin of the Agrarian Science of Uzbekistan. 3:7-11.

Interpretive Summary: Because cottonseed contains a toxic compound called gossypol, it cannot be fed to non-ruminant animals. However, gossypol occurs in two forms referred to as (+)- and (-)-gossypol. (-)-Gossypol is significantly more toxic to non-ruminants than (+)-gossypol. ARS scientists have developed cotton plants that produce a low percentage of (-)-gossypol. Using these lines, scientists in Uzbekistan have showed that it should be possible to introduce the low (-)-gossypol seed trait into lines that are well suited to the unique growing conditions present in Uzbekistan.

Technical Abstract: Cottonseed can not be used directly as a feed for non-ruminant animals because it contains the toxin called gossypol. However, gossypol occurs in two forms (+)-gossypol and (-)-gossypol. Only the latter shows a high level of toxicity. The objective of our research was to develop breeding germplasm with a high percentage of (+)-gossypol in seed that will serve as a new sources of plant protein which can be safely used as a feed for non-ruminant animals. To this end, we investiagted the inheritance and variability of the high (+)-gossypol seed trait in hybrids derived from U.S. accessions BC3S1-47-8-1-17 and BC3S1-1-6-3-15 that exhibit the high percent (+)-gossypol seed trait and various Uzbek varieties. In field and greenhouse studies we found an intermediate inheritance of (+)-gossypol percent in petals and seeds among genetically diverse F1 hybrids and positive and negative transgresses in F2-F3 hybrids. We found a positive correlation between (+)-gossypol content in flower petals and seeds. This indicates that the percent (+)-gossypol in flower petals can be used as an efficient predictor of the percent (+)-gossypol in seed. Low correlations were observed between the high percent of (+)-gossypol seed trait with other agronomic qualities. The low correlation values between the high percent of (+)-gossypol in seed and the other agronomic traits indicate that it should be possible to select progenies with a high percent of (+)-gossypol in the seed in combination with desirable agronomic traits.