Toward Cloning of All Major Genes Significant for Cotton Fiber Yield and Quality, and Deciphering of the Molecular Basis of Cotton Fiber Yield and Quality

Functional Genomics

oral

Liu, Yun-Hua; Zhang, Meiping ; Zhang, Yang ; Smith, C. Wayne; Hague, Steve S.; Zhang, Hong-Bin

Zhang, Hong-Bin

Zhang, Hong-Bin

Studies have revealed that most, if not all, of traits, especially those of agronomic importance and quantitative inheritance, are the consequence of interactions among a number of genes. Therefore, it is crucial to understanding the molecular basis of the traits and developing molecular toolkits enabling effective manipulation of the traits in enhanced breeding to isolate the genes controlling the traits and to determine how they work together to make the traits. To rapidly clone the genes and QTLs controlling traits or biological processes of importance in different species, we have developed a high-throughput gene and QTL cloning and studying system based on natural or artificial genetic variation of the target traits using maize. Using the system, thousands of genes controlling several agronomical traits such as those controlling yield and quality traits can be cloned within a few years by a scientist. Its gene and QTL cloning efficiency is approximately thousand-fold higher than the currently used gene and QTL cloning methods such as map-based cloning, T-DNA or transposon insertional mutagenesis, chemically-induced mutagenesis and RNA interference. We have been working toward cloning of all major genes controlling cotton fiber yield and quality traits using a new RIL population developed from a cross between G. hirsutum (94L-25) and G. barbadense (NMSI 1331) with the high-throughput gene and QTL cloning system since 2009. We have phenotyped the genetic variation of six major fiber yield and quality traits, including lint percentage, lint yield, fiber length, fiver strength, fiber uniformity and micronaire from 2009 – 2011 and collected necessary tissues from the field trials. We are currently analyzing the tissues using modern molecular technologies. The project is expected to be completed within this year, which will allow isolation of thousands of genes controlling the fiber yield and quality traits. The fiber genes will then be used to study the molecular basis of the fiber traits and to design toolkits desirable for enhanced cotton fiber breeding.