Abstract
The diploid species G. herbaceum (A1) and G. raimondii (D5) are the progenitors of allotetraploid cotton, respectively. However, hybrids between G. herbaceum and G. raimondii haven’t been reported. In the present study, hybridization between G. herbaceum and G. raimondii was explored. Morphological, cytogenetic and molecular analyses were used to assess the hybridity. The interspecific hybrid plants were successfully obtained. Most of the morphological characteristics of the hybrids were intermediate between G. herbaceum and G. raimondii. However, the color of glands, anther cases, pollen and corolla, and the state of bracteoles in hybrids were associated with the G. herbaceum. The color of staminal columns and filaments in hybrids were associated with G. raimondii. Cytogenetic analysis confirmed abnormal meiotic behavior existed in hybrids. The hybrids couldn’t produce boll-set. Simple sequence repeat results found that besides the fragments inherited from the two parents, some novel bands were amplified in hybrids, indicating that potential mutations and chromosomal recombination occurred between parental genomes during hybridization. These results may provide some novel insights in speciation, genome interaction, and evolution of the tetraploid cotton species.
Highlights
Cotton has important economic values in the world
The hybrid plants exhibited prolific growth with extensive monopodial branching, which was similar to G. herbaceum and G. raimondii (Fig 1)
The plant height of G. herbaceum varied from 50 cm to 70 cm and G. raimondii could reach a height of 5.0 m
Summary
Cotton has important economic values in the world. It has been widely used in different fields, such as in the textile industry, in the production of oil and plant protein, and especially in taxonomic and evolutionary studies [1]. The cotton genus Gossypium includes 51 worldwide-distributed species, of which 46 are diploid (2n = 2x = 26) and the other five are tetraploid (2n = 4x = 52) [2]. Based on chromosomal pairing relationships and geographical distribution, the diploid species can be divided into eight subgenomes and designated as A to G and K [3]. Various kinds of interspecific hybrids have been successfully established, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0169833. Various kinds of interspecific hybrids have been successfully established, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0169833 February 10, 2017
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