The inheritance of lint colour was studied in five coloured linted genotypes namely Light Brown, SP 3936 (A), Khaki Colour 8631, Malvensis and 7869 Brown. The segregation in Bc1 and F2 populations developed from coloured x white linted crosses showed fitness of 1:1 and 3:1 ratio, respectively indicating a single gene governing inheritance of lint colour. Though the inheritance appears to be monogenic, test for allelism of the colour linted genotypes indicates presence of three independent loci responsible for lint colour. Expression of lint colour gene in Khaki Colour 8631 is similar to Lc2B, whereas in Malvensis and 7869 Brown genotype, it resembles to the expression of Lc3B, Lc2B and Lc3B are cumulative in action, when occur together, producing darker lint colour, i.e. brown lint, whereas single dominant allele (Lc2B or Lc3B) produce light brown lint. Genes carried by Light Brown and SP 3936 (A) are different from Lc2B and Lc3B. A new independent locus Lc5 with a gene symbol Lcs responsible for light brown lint is proposed.
Coloured cotton, inheritance, lint colour, G. arboreum L.
