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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #286627
Title: Breeding potential of elite Pee Dee germplasm in Upland cotton breeding programs

Author
item Campbell, Benjamin - Todd
item WEAVER, D - Auburn University
item SHARPE, R - Auburn University
item WU, J - South Dakota State University
item JONES, D - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/13/2012
Publication Date: 5/17/2013
Citation: Campbell, B.T., Weaver, D.B., Sharpe, R., Wu, J., Jones, D.C. 2013. Breeding potential of elite Pee Dee germplasm in Upland cotton breeding programs. Crop Science. 53:894-905.

Interpretive Summary: The cornerstone of successful plant breeding is effective parental line selection. Plant breeders often conduct studies to determine the breeding potential of specific germplasm. The objective of the study was to determine the breeding potential of elite Pee Dee germplasm. To accomplish this objective, we developed and evaluated breeding populations involving elite Pee Dee germplasm and germplasm from eight US public cotton breeding programs. Based upon parental line mean performance, hybrid performance, and genetic effect estimates, the breeding potential for recently developed, elite Pee Dee germplasm was similar to or better than the breeding potential of two well-known, commercial cultivars. Results suggest that crosses involving germplasm from the USDA-ARS-Stoneville, Mississippi, and USDA-ARS-Maricopa, Arizona, cotton germplasm enhancement programs offer high fiber quality potential. In addition, our results suggest that recently developed, elite Pee Dee germplasm can be used to generate offspring with the rare combination of high agronomic performance and fiber quality. Cotton breeders can use the information provided herein to facilitate their efforts to develop elite breeding lines, recurrent parents, and/or commercial cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Successful plant breeding programs begin with parental line selection. Effective parental line selection is facilitated when the breeding potential of candidate parental lines is known. Using topcross families involving germplasm representing eight US public cotton breeding programs, we evaluated the breeding potential of recently developed, elite Pee Dee germplasm. Based upon parental line mean performance, hybrid performance, and genetic effect estimates, the breeding potential for recently developed, elite Pee Dee germplasm was similar to or better than the breeding potential of two well-known, commercial cultivars. Results suggest that crosses involving germplasm from the USDA-ARS-Stoneville, Mississippi, and USDA-ARS-Maricopa, Arizona, cotton germplasm enhancement programs offer high fiber quality potential. In addition, our results suggest that recently developed, elite Pee Dee germplasm can be used to generate offspring with a lessened or absent negative relationship between agronomic performance and fiber quality. Cotton breeders can use the information provided herein to facilitate their efforts to develop elite breeding lines, recurrent parents, and/or commercial cultivars.