Chromosome substitution lines with improved essential mineral nutrients and fiber quality traits in Upland cotton

Authors: Saha, Sukumar; Tewolde, Haile; Jenkins, Johnie; McCarty, Jack; STELLY, DAVID - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2022
Publication Date: 6/20/2023
Citation: Saha, S., Tewolde, H., Jenkins, J.N., Mccarty Jr, J.C., Stelly, D.M. 2023. Chromosome substitution lines with improved essential mineral nutrients and fiber quality traits in Upland cotton. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-023-01628-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-023-01628-2

Interpretive Summary: Introgression of novel traits from alien to cultivated cotton species through the technique of chromosome substitution (CS) has been shown to broaden the narrow genetic base of Upland cotton. In this study, we investigated whether substituting selected chromosomes of an Upland cotton variety by corresponding chromosomes of two donor species improves the mineral nutrition and fiber quality of the recipient variety. Eleven CS lines that consisted of selected chromosomes from Gossypium barbadense (sometimes referred to as Pima cotton or Egyptian cotton) or Gossypium tomentosum (a wild cotton species from Hawaii) substituted into an Upland Gossypium hirsutum parent (TM-1) were grown and evaluated based on the level of leaf mineral nutrients and fiber quality. The highest levels of 7 of 10 leaf mineral elements were measured in CS lines. Two chromosomes (Chromosomes 1 and 18) were identified for having association with improved leaf nutrient improvement in TM-1. One of them in particular improved leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. Three of these nutrients are applied as fertilizers in modern cotton production practices. Fiber quality was affected by CS lines, but there was no single substitution that led to more than two fiber quality improvements. Overall, this study showed that the technique of chromosome substitution is an effective tool for broadening the genetic base to enhance mineral nutrition and fiber quality of Upland cotton.

Technical Abstract: Introgression of novel traits from alien to cultivated cotton species through the technique of chromosome substitution (CS) can be a valuable tool for broadening the genetic base of Upland cotton. The objective of this research was to determine whether the mineral nutrition and fiber quality of cotton can be improved by the introgression of selected chromosomes from donor species into Upland cotton. Eleven CS lines that consisted of selected chromosomes from Gossypium barbadense and G. tomentosum substituted into a recurrent G. hirsutum parent (TM-1) were grown along with TM-1 in two fields. The CS lines included CS-B01, CS-B04, CS-B07, CS-B15Lo, CS-B18, CS-T01, CS-T04, CS-T07, CS-T8Lo, CS-T15Lo, and CS-T18, in which a letter that followed CS- represents the donor species and the number after the letter refers to the substituted chromosome position. Mineral nutrition of the CS lines was measured based on leaf samples taken two weeks after flowering. Fiber quality was based on hand-picked bolls at harvest. The highest levels of 7 of 10 leaf mineral elements were measured in CS lines. Chromosomes that were associated with leaf nutrient improvement were Chromosomes 1 and 18. CS-B18, in particular, improved leaf N, P, K, and Zn relative to TM-1. The other chromosomes investigated (Chromosomes 4, 7, or the long arms of 8 or 15) did not affect or improve leaf nutrients relative to TM-1. Fiber quality was affected by CS lines, but there was no single substitution that led to more than two fiber quality improvements. CS-B15Lo and CS-B18 showed a tendency to improve fiber strength and elongation. CS-T15Lo also improved fiber elongation and yellow index. Overall, the results show that the technique of chromosome substitution is an effective tool for broadening the genetic base to enhance the mineral nutrition and fiber quality of Upland cotton.