Genetic Relations within Western US Upland Cotton Germplasm

The genetic relationships of historically important varieties and germplasm lines varieties and germplasm lines provide insights in effective use of the available cotton germplasm (Gossypium sp.) in the United States. The western region of the United States includes the Southwest and High Plains, which, in turn, include some of the historic breeding programs in the United States. The sampled varieties and germplasm lines are from the early 1890s to the 1990s. Measures of gene variation and differentiation that were calculated using map-derived RFLP markers show a very narrow germplasm base.