Development of Molecular Markers to Distinguish Cytoplasm Substitution Lines of Cotton

Traditionally breeders and geneticists alike have used morphological characteristics or phenotype to distinguish various genotypes/cultivars. However, with the advent of cytoplasmic capture, phenotyping can become difficult, if not impossible. Through this process, lines with new cytoplasms (alloplasmic lines) differ in their cytoplasmic material but have the same nuclear DNA. Since nuclear DNA is the primary basis of heredity, notable morphological differences may not be seen, thus making phenotype selection difficult or impossible. In recent years, molecular measures have provided a sensitive and reliable means to identify diversity among genotypes. Both geneticists and plant breeders have come to rely on marker assisted selection (MAS) as a proven and powerful tool for screening and selection. The objective of this project is to develop molecular markers for chloroplastic or mitochondrial DNA, as a means to identify different cytoplasm substitution lines.