The plant geneticist’s contribution toward changing the lipid and amino acid composition of cottonseed

Abstract

AbstractGossypol is well known to be responsible for the troublesome dark color of cottonseed oil. It may depress growth, cause discoloration of eggs, and create metabolic disturbances when fed to nonruminant animals in excessive amounts. All but a trace of seed gossypol is contained in pigment glands present in the cottonseed kernel. Genetical research conducted by USDA scientist, S.C. McMichael, led to his discovery of a glandless seeded cotton in 1953. Glandless cottonseed are essentially free of gossypol. Using McMichael’s genetic lines as gene sources, cotton breeders have developed breeding programs in the last 10 years from which three commercial glandless cotton varieties have so far been released. More glandless cotton varieties are on the way. Due to the elimination of gossypol, the color of the oil and utility of the meal from glandless cottonseed is distinctly superior to that from glanded cottonseed. The advent of glandless cottonseed, its potential value in the field of human protein nutrition, and the success in breeding improved oil and protein quality in other oilseeds, have recently caused cotton geneticists to become interested in the possibility of genetically manipulating lipid and amino acid composition in cottonseed. However specialized genetic techniques involving interspecific gene transfer or use of wild photoperiodic uplands may be required in making such improvements.