Identification of major QTLS for fiber quality traits in cotton using interspecific backcross mapping population

Abstract

A segregating interspecific backcross population BC1F1, (KC 3 x Suvin) x KC 3, was generated by crossing two diverse parents Gossypium hirsutum L. var. KC 3 and Gossypium barbadense L. var. Suvin. A genetic linkage map was constructed using 141 polymorphic SSR markers, which had 57 marker loci distributed over 19 linkage groups, assigned to 16 chromosomes and spanned 911.6 cM. Though, several QTLs were identified, two QTLs linked to fiber quality traits were found to be particularly important since they were major QTLs. A QTL region flanked by CIR150 and CIR407 on chromosome 25 was identified for micronaire with 14.7 per cent of phenotypic variation and the same region was reported elsewhere for micronaire. Another QTL region flanked by CIR219 and NAU3935 on chromosome 19 was identified for 2.5 per cent span length with 17.7 per cent of phenotypic variation. Hence, these two QTLs may play a potential role in future cotton breeding programme.