Genetic characterization of the brown lint phenotype for desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum) accession PI 408765 (cv."Sanguineum-1")

Authors: Erpelding, John

Submitted to: Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/2021
Publication Date: 11/26/2021
Citation: Erpelding, J.E. 2021. Genetic characterization of the brown lint phenotype for desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum) accession PI 408765 (cv."Sanguineum-1"). Plant Breeding. 140(6):1115-1122. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12977.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12977

Interpretive Summary: The United States ranks third in worldwide cotton production and is the leading exporter of cotton fiber. Cotton is the major source of natural fiber for textile production and nearly cotton grown worldwide has white fiber. To generate colored textiles, cotton fibers are bleached and dyed. Many of the synthetic dyes used to color cotton fibers are toxic compounds that are a source of pollution. An eco-friendly option is the used of naturally colored cotton varieties that do not require the use of dyes and would have the added advantage of lower production costs associated with dyeing cotton fibers and waste water treatment. Cotton varieties producing brown fiber are available in United States Department Agriculture, National Plant Germplasm System. However, these brown fiber cotton varieties have lower yield potential and produce poor quality fiber that results in higher textile production costs. Identifying the genes that control cotton fiber color would aid in the development of improved varieties. A genetic evaluation of the brown fiber trait was conducted for the Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum) variety PI 408765 identified from the germplasm collection. Populations were developed by crossing PI 408765 with varieties PI 529729 having white fiber and with PI 615733 that also produces brown fiber. Cotton fiber color for these populations ranged from brown to light brown to white. These data indicated that PI 408765 has a single dominant gene controlling the development of brown colored fiber. Additionally, this gene is different from the gene controlling brown fiber for PI 615733. Results of this study can be used in future research to evaluate how these brown fiber genes control cotton fiber coloration in order to develop strategies to improve yield and fiber quality.

Technical Abstract: Cotton fibre can show a range in brown colouration and these coloured lint fibres can be used for textile production reducing the environmental and human health hazards associated with synthetic dyes; however, coloured cotton cultivars have lower yield potential and reduced lint quality. A greater understanding of the genetics of lint colouration would be useful for the development of improved cultivars. Gossypium arboreum L. accession PI 408765 having the brown lint phenotype was identified from the United States Department Agriculture, National Plant Germplasm System cotton collection and crossed with G. arboreum accessions PI 529729 having white lint and with PI 615733 having brown lint. Lint colour data from the F2 populations support a single incomplete dominant gene model for the brown lint phenotype. Additionally, the brown lint phenotypes for PI 408765 and PI 615733 are controlled by two independent genes. Plants in these populations showed a range of brown lint colouration and these data would be useful to further characterize the mechanisms controlling brown lint development.