The use of haploids of cotton in interspecific crosses

Abstract

Haploid cotton plants (n = 26 chromossomes) from the semigametic virescent lines 73-4003 and 74-4116 (Gossypium barbadense L.) with genetic marker virescent 7 were used as female in crosses with normal (2n = 4x = 52 chromossomes) Upland varieties (Gossypium hirsutum L.). All crosses were feasible and produced trilocular bolls with one seeded boll but one which produced two seeds. These seeds had normal germination and the F₁ plants exhibit good development. The phenotype of the F₂generation resembled normal interspecific hybrids and the segregation of three plants normal green to one virescent 7, indicated that crosses involving haploids plants as female with Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) diploid plants yielded a hybrid progeny like in crosses with diploid x diploid.