Targeted transfer of trait for Verticillium wilt resistance from Gossypium barbadense into G. hirsutum using SSR markers

Verticillium wilt ( VW ) is a soil‐borne disease of cotton that is destructive worldwide. Transferring desired traits from Gossypium barbadense is challenging through traditional interspecific introgression. We previously demonstrated that a molecular marker, BNL 3255‐208, is associated with VW resistance in G. barbadense . This breakthrough opens the way for marker‐assisted selection ( MAS ) breeding. Here, the highly resistant G. barbadense cv. ‘Pima90‐53’ and the severe diseased Gossypium hirsutum cv. ‘ CCRI 8’ were used as donor parent and recipient parent, respectively. Our goal was to transfer the disease resistance from donor to recipient via MAS . Among 71 MAS obtained lines, as many as 19 lines had enhanced resistance. Among those lines, 11 lines showed high resistance and four lines displayed resistance to VW . Moreover, seven lines displayed improved fibre quality. After combining the markedly improved resistance and fibre properties, we identified two elite innovated introgression lines – ZY 2 and ZY 31 – that did not seem to differ in other agronomic traits from the recipient parent. This study first successfully transferred of G. barbadense resistance into G. hirsutum by MAS .