Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Cotton is primarily grown and harvested for the lint, which has been the focus of cotton research and breeding efforts over many decades, leaving seed traits neglected. Our short to medium term goals are to leverage an existing, unique RIL population segregating for cottonseed oil content, to deliver: 1) A comprehensive understanding of the genetic architecture of cottonseed oil content in important germplasm (QTLs and functional alleles); 2) Applied approaches to track and predict cottonseed oil content in upland cotton germplasm and breeding pipelines; 3) Delivery of unique germplasm with high cottonseed oil content AND genetic resistance to the #1 disease threat to upland cotton (Fusarium oxysporum, vasinfectum race 4) to stakeholders. Our long-term goals are to identify the genetic basis of cottonseed oil content and release new germplasm and DNA markers for improvement of this trait. Our vision is to develop a joint fiber and seed cotton production system to maximize value from both plant components. These outcomes will directly benefit breeders, growers, and allied scientists that transect the public/private/non-profit industries. In the longer term, this project will develop a foundation that can lead to the production of designer cottonseed with improved nutritional benefits and enhanced functional properties that will add more value to this by-product of fiber production. This proposal addresses the AFRI Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE) program. Our project will deliver solutions to cotton stakeholders requests to increase the value of the crop to make farming operations more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
30%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Cotton is primarily grown and harvested for the lint, which has been the focus of cotton research and breeding efforts over many decades, leaving seed traits neglected. Our short to medium term goals are to leverage an existing, unique RIL population segregating for cottonseed oil content, to deliver: 1) A comprehensive understanding of the genetic architecture of cottonseed oil content in important germplasm (QTLs and functional alleles); 2) Applied approaches to track and predict cottonseed oil content in upland cotton germplasm and breeding pipelines; 3) Delivery of unique germplasm with high cottonseed oil content AND genetic resistance to the #1 disease threat to upland cotton (Fusarium oxysporum, vasinfectum race 4) to stakeholders. Our long-term goals are to identify the genetic basis of cottonseed oil content and release new germplasm and DNA markers for improvement of this trait. Our vision is to develop a joint fiber and seed cotton production system to maximize value from both plant components. These outcomes will directly benefit breeders, growers, and allied scientists that transect the public/private/non-profit industries. In the longer term, this project will develop a foundation that can lead to the production of designer cottonseed with improved nutritional benefits and enhanced functional properties that will add more value to this by-product of fiber production.Our objectives are to:1. Collect oil content measurements from a recombinant inbred population (U1 x Siokra 250) in 12 environments (6 each year for 2 years). The population is currently at F7:8.2. Conduct high-resolution genetic mapping using multi-location, multi-year phenotyping with whole genome genotypes collected through a current USDA-NIFA proposal (2021-11395).3. Release inbred lines with high oil content and identify candidate genes and causal alleles underpinning oil content (genetic variation) to translate to DNA biomarkers to track and predict this trait in breeding pipelines. These results will also move to a genome editing pipeline for future genetic tailoring of this trait with biotechnology.
Project Methods
This project builds upon significant population development, breeding, screening, and genetic analysis to understand the genetic basis of FOV4 resistance in the highly resistant parent, U1. The susceptible parent, the elite Australian commercial variety Siokra 250, was crossed to U1, and RILs developed (F7:8) using single seed decent in the Costa Rica winter nursery. A high-resolution genetic map will be constructed for FOV4 under USDA project 2021-11395 using F8 plants to collect genotypes. Genotypes will be whole-genome skim sequences for each RIL (~300). This same population segregates for oil content. Through this project, we will collect cottonseed oil measurements in 6 environments spanning the cotton belt (S.C., GA, AK, MS, TX, and AZ) over 2 years to assemble a high-resolution genetic map of the cottonseed oil trait. We will design and validate molecular markers (SNPs) that can predict FOV4/oil QTLs. We will id and release germplasm with both positive characteristics. We will identify DNA biomarkers that are diagnostic of the discovered QTLs. We will publicly release lines derived from the RIL population verified to contain high oil alleles in the Journal of Plant Registrations. Also, we will publish results in referred journals and communicate to the cotton research community at the annual Beltwide Cotton Conference held each January. Regular outreach/extension to the cotton grower leadership will occur via Cotton Incorporated's Board of Director Meetings held four times each year.