Pima Cotton Genetics

Abstract

In an investigation of the genetic diversity and structure of Gossvpium barbadense L. it was determined that northwestern South America was the species' center of variability and probably the species' center of origin. Cultivars of the species were found to possess as much genetic variability as the center of variability. Cultivar variability was due in large part to introgression with G. hirsutum. Studies of interspecific hybrid performance revealed that development of G. barbadense parents could significantly affect the plant height, earliness, and yield of the resulting hybrids. Environment significantly affected hybrid performance and could enhance or obscure any beneficial effects of hybrid parent selection. A conversion program to convert photoperiodic short-day flowering tropical accessions to day neutrality continues. Preliminary results from inheritance and linkage studies of a male sterility factor and a foliar mutant indicate that both are single gene, recessive traits. No linkages between the male sterility factor and 21 marker traits were found.