Progress in Developing Advanced MAR Cotton Germplasm with Mutant Morphological Traits

K.M. El-Zik and P.M. Thaxton


 
ABSTRACT

Pests affect plant health causing reduction in cotton yield, fiber quality, and profit. Higher levels of resistance to insects, plant pathogens, and abiotic stresses are needed in cotton cultivars to maintain plant health. The multi-adversity resistance (MAR) program has been successful in transferring and developing cotton germplasm with mutant morphological traits known to impart host resistance to pests. Thirteen experiments were conducted over a three year period (1990-1992) in Texas to quantify yield, earliness, and fiber quality traits of nine new MAR cotton strains with the mutant traits frego bract, nectariless, okrashaped leaf, and red plant color. Entries in the tests included the MAR mutant strains, advanced MAR-6 strains and cultivars representing the MAR-1 to MAR-5 gene pools. Performance of most mutant strains was similar for all measured traits in either glabrous or hairy backgrounds. Yields of the frego bract and nectariless strains were similar to those of non-mutant MAR-6 strains, while the okra leaf and red plant strains produced lower yields. Nectariless and okra leaf strains were earlier in maturity, and the red plant strains matured later than MAR-6 strains. Okra leaf strains produced a longer fiber than the other mutant strains, the MAR-6 strains, or the Tamcot cultivars. The frego bract, okra leaf and red plant strains produced a stronger fiber and the nectariless strains had similar fiber strength compared to the Tamcot cultivars. Mutant strains generally were similar in fiber uniformity, elongation, and micronaire, but the red plant strains produced a higher micronaire value. The MAR mutant strains have simultaneous genetic gains for many traits, and will provide new sources of host plant resistance to cotton insects and plant pathogens.



Reprinted from 1993 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 589 - 592
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998