ABSTRACT

Two hundred and three mapped micro-satellites markers evenly distributed on the 26 chromosomes of G. hirsutum L. were used to monitor the introgression of DNA fragments coming from the Australian species G. sturtianum Willis in a population of BC₁, BC₂, BC₂S₁, BC₂S₂, BC₂S₃, B₂2S₄, BC₂S₅, BC₁/BC₂S₂, S₁/BC₁/BC₂S₂, BC₃, BC₃S₁, BC₃S₂ and BC₃S₃ backcross derivatives obtained from the G. hirsutum x G.raimondiiUlb. x G. sturtianum (HRS) trispecific hybrid. A single marker analysis carried out in this population permitted to associate six G. sturtianum microsatellites to putative QTLs controlling the low gossypol-seed and high-gossypol plant trait. These microsatellites are located on chromosomes c02, c13 and c12. They constitute very useful tools to assist the selection of commercial cotton varieties showing a drastic inhibition of the gossypol synthesis in the seed while presenting a normal content of terpenoids in their aerial parts.