Increasing Fiber Initiation in Naked-Tufted Seed Cotton Mutants

Increasing Fiber Initiation in Naked-Tufted Seed Cotton Mutants

B. R, Hendon¹, D.L. Auld^1,2, E. Bechere³ , E. Hequet^1,2

¹Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University,

Lubbock, TX 79409-2122; ²Texas AgriLife Research, Lubbock, TX 79403;

and ³USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Laboratory, Stoneville, MS 38776

Identification of cotton mutants could be used to create genetic variability in upland cotton that could improve crop quality.  In 1997, several cotton cultivars were treated with 2.45% v/v ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and planted in the field. Mutant lines from Atlas, SC 9023, and Tejas were selected for the naked-tufted phenotype.  The trait was stabilized over several years.  The selected lines were evaluated for fiber quality, yield, and ginning efficiency.  The naked-tufted mutation appears to decrease the time and energy of ginning, increase oil content, reduce seed coat neps, but also had reduced lint yields.  Our recent objective has been to increase yield by increasing fiber initiaion in these mutants.  In 2010, 360 individual plant selections were made from segregating populations developed to increase fiber quality and lint yield.   Hand ginned fiber was evaluated at the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute in Lubbock, Texas using AFIS (Advanced Fiber Information Systems) to determine fiber quality.  In 2011, ten lines selected for uniform nakedness and planted in Lubbock, Texas in a randomized checkerboard design with ten single plant replications. Alternative rows of black-eyed peas were used to reduce cross-pollinization.  Individual plants from selected lines  were evaluated for lint yield and uniform nakedness, fiber quality, and fiber initiation.  It is hoped that these advancements will allow for commercialization of this unique trait in upland cotton.