QTL analysis for early-maturing traits in cotton using two upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crosses

Abstract

Making use of the markers linked closely to QTL for early-maturing traits for MAS (Marker-assisted selection) is an effective method for the simultaneous improvement of early maturity and other properties in cotton. In this study, two F2 populations and their F2:3 families were generated from the two upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crosses, Baimian2 × TM-1 and Baimian2 × CIR12. QTL for early-maturing traits were analyzed using F2:3 families. A total of 54 QTL (31 suggestive and 23 significant) were detected. Fourteen significant QTL had the LOD scores not only > 3 but also exceeding permutation threshold. At least four common QTL, qBP-17 for bud period (BP), qGP-17a/qGP-17b (qGP-17) for growth period (GP), qYPBF-17a/qYPBF-17b (qYPBF-17) for yield percentage before frost (YPBF) and qHFFBN-17 for height of first fruiting branch node (HFFBN), were found in both populations. These common QTL should be reliable and could be used for MAS to facilitate early maturity. The common QTL, qBP-17, had a LOD score not only > 3 but also exceeding permutation threshold, explaining 12.6% of the phenotypic variation. This QTL should be considered preferentially in MAS. Early-maturing traits of cotton are primarily controlled by dominant and over-dominant effects.

Keywords: MAS; QTL; common QTL; early-maturing traits; short-season upland cotton.

Fig. 1

Location of significant QTL for early-maturing traits in Pop I (Baimian2 × TM-1). 13 significant QTL are shown as seedling period (SP), bud period (BP), flower and boll period (FBP), growth period (GP), yield percentage before frost (YPBF), first fruiting branch node (FFBN) and height of first fruiting branch node (HFFBN). * indicates the QTL had a LOD score not only > 3 but also exceeding permutation threshold.

Fig. 2

Location of significant QTL for early-maturing traits from Pop II (Baimian2 × CIR12). Ten significant QTL are shown as seedling period (SP), bud period (BP), growth period (GP), yield percentage before frost (YPBF), first fruiting branch node (FFBN) and height of first fruiting branch node (HFFBN). * indicates that the QTL had a LOD score not only > 3 but also exceeding permutation threshold.

Fig. 3

Location of common QTL in the two populations: Pop I (Baimian2 × TM-1) and Pop II (Baimian2 × CIR12). Four common QTL for four traits are shown as bud period (BP), growth period (GP), yield percentage before frost (YPBF) and height of first fruiting branch node (HFFBN).