Breeding of high seed oil oleate levels into Upland cotton from wild Gossypium barbadense L. germplasm

Abstract

AbstractA high seed oil oleate trait identified in wild Gossypium barbadense L. cotton accession GB713 (PI 608139) was bred into Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar Sure‐Grow 747 (SG747, PVP 9800118). Starting from the F2 generation of an initial cross between GB713 and SG747, plants were selected by measuring the seed oil fatty acid distributions by gas chromatography. Selected F3 plants were crossed to M Rk‐Rn 6, a line previously created from GB713 and SG747 for improved nematode resistance. High‐oleate plants were selected in the F2 population. Selected plants were then crossed to HOa1 (a ∼35% oleate line derived from M Rk‐Rn 1, a sibling line to M Rk‐Rn 6), and high‐oleate plants were again selected in the F2 population. F3 plants were re‐selected for the high‐oleate trait, and four selected F4 lines were evaluated in 2022 field plots. The four lines had oleate levels between 52% and 57%, approximately triple that found in normal cottonseed oil (15%–19%) and higher than in either the high‐oleate wild GB713 parent (∼40%) or in the previously released HOa cotton plant lines (33%–35%). The increased oleate levels occurred with an approximately equal reduction in linoleic acid. Other seed and fiber properties were largely like those of SG747, although some residual GB713 character existed within the lines. The resulting oil composition should be ideal for use in deep fat frying, with the high level of oleic acid improving the oil's oxidative stability but with sufficient linoleic acid to maintain frying flavor.