1Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
2Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tindivanam, Villupuram-604 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
3Department of Cotton, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
4Directorate of Research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
5ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Regional Station, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
6Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vriddhachalam-606 001, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Corresponding Author: Debadatta Panda, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India, Email: debadattapanda555@gmail.com
Online Published on 10 May, 2023.
Utilizing two wild cotton species, Gossypium anomalum [Wawra and Peyritsch (2n=2x=26) B1] and Gossypium aridum [Skovsted (2n=2x=26) D4], extensive wide hybridization event carried out with upland cotton to assess the feasibility and ease of delivering genetic variation responsible for resistance to various stresses.
The crossing was carried out using the wild species and the cultivate varieties of upland cotton in 2021-2022 at TNAU, Coimbatore. Total of 12 crosses were attempted and the various aspect regarding the feasibility success of different crosses was studied.
In contrast to their reciprocals, viable offspring were generated in the direct crosses with tetraploid parents employed as seed parents with both wild species. A huge bulk of bolls dropped during the first seven days of pollination and no matured boll set was observed in reciprocals. Most G. anomalum hybrids produce F1 offspring with thick and long leaf hairs which help the plant attain resistance against sucking pests. Through successive backcrosses or chromosome duplication, such genetic material potentially can be utilized furthermore in plant breeding to provide new beneficial resistance traits apart from other significant and relevant features.
American cotton, Crossability, Interspecific hybridization, Wild diploid cotton
