Variable Effect of a Fiber Length QTL Deployed within Several Regionally Adapted Cultivars

Originally identified from Sealand 883, this QTL had a significant effect on fiber length in the testing population, but varied by as much as 3 to 4 fold depending on the genetic background in which it was deployed.  It is the purpose of this project to examine the effect of this QTL in four different genetic backgrounds.  Parents were selected that represent the major growing regions of the cotton belt.  These include Acala SJ-4, Paymaster HS-26, DP50, and GA-2004089 representing the arid Southwest, Texas High Plains, Mississippi Delta, and Southeastern growing region ecotypes, respectively.  About 400 F_2:5 lines were grown in several locations to quantify the effect of this QTL on fiber length within different genetic backgrounds, within different environments, and the interaction with genotype and environment.