Construction of a linkage map and QTL mapping for fiber quality traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

With the development in spinning technology, the improvement of cotton fiber quality is becoming more and more important. The main objective of this research was to construct a high-density genetic linkage map to facilitate marker assisted selection for fiber quality traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). A genetic linkage map comprising 421 loci and covering 3814.3 cM, accounting for approximately 73.35% of the cotton genome, was constructed using an F₂ population derived from cross GX1135 (P₁)×GX100-2 (P₂). Forty-four of 49 linkage groups were assigned to the 26 chromosomes. Fiber quality traits were investigated in F₂ population sampled from individuals, and in F₂:₃, and F₂:₄ generations sampled by lines from two sites and one respectively, and each followed a randomized complete block design with two replications. Thirty-nine quantitative trait loci were detected for five fiber quality traits with data from single environments (separate analysis each): 12 for fiber length, five for fiber uniformity, nine for fiber strength, seven for fiber elongation, and six for fiber micronaire, whereas 15 QTLs were found in combined analysis (data from means of different environments in F₂:₃ generation). Among these QTLs, qFL-chr5-2 and qFL-chr14-2 for fiber length were detected simultaneously in three generations (four environments) and verified further by combined analysis, and these QTLs should be useful for marker assisted selection to improve fiber quality in upland cotton.