Creation of a New Resistant Germplasm to Verticillium Wilt by Distant Hybridization in Upland Cotton

To create new germplasm lines resistant to Verticillium wilt in upland cotton, 65 distant hybridization germplasm lines (DHGLs) in upland cotton genetic background were cultivated by interspecific hybridization between Gossypium hirsutum and wild species including G. anomalum, G. armourianum, G. aridum, G. raimondii, G. mustelinum, interspecific F₁ backcrossing with G. hirsutum for four generations, and selfing for four generations, followed by a conventional breeding program. The results of agronomic trait identification during 2011-2012 indicated that average plant heights of DHGLs were closely similar to commercial cultivars of upland cotton, while average fruit branches, fruit nodes, bolls of DHGLs individual plant were lower than those in commercial cultivars of upland cotton. Average single boll weight and lint percentage of DHGLs were lower than commercial cultivars of upland cotton. Fiber length, strength, fineness and maturity of DHGLs were reasonably collocated. Fiber of most lines was suitable for spinning extra high count yarn, but the main fiber quality indices of commercial cultivars of upland cotton were not well coordinated. Identification of resistance to Verticillium wilt in defoliation disease nursery during 2012-2013 indicated that five DHGLs resistant to Verticillium wilt . Suyuan 040, Suyuan 045 and Suyuan 061 were highly resistant to Verticillium wilt with a disease index of 8.33, 4.35 and 7.79, respectively. Suyuan 030 and Suyuan 034 were resistant to Verticillium wilt with a disease index of 12.35 and 13.70, respectively. The genetic relationship of new germplasm lines resistant to Verticillium wilt were traced and showed that Suyuan 040 and Suyuan 045 were DHGLs of G. raimondii, Suyuan 061 was DHGL of G.mustelinum, Suyuan 030 and Suyuan 034 were DHGLs of G. aridum.