Identification of SNP Markers for Gland Morphogenesis In Cotton

Gossypol, filled in pigmented glands of the cotton plant, limits food utilization of cottonseed due to its toxicity to human and non-ruminant animals.  Gossypol genesis is closely related to gland morphogenesis.  We report the development of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers involved in gland morphogenesis for the discovery of candidate genes associated with gland and gossypol traits.  From coding and intron sequences of 85 unique gland development-related protein (GDRP) genes, we identified 36 SNP markers and mapped to 23 loci in the cotton genome.  Localization of the gene-tagged SNP markers would provide new opportunities to investigate the gland morphogenesis for cottonseed improvement.