Genetic Purity Testing of F1 Hybrids of Cotton Using DNA Markers

Cotton is one of the most important fiber crops of the world. Traditionally it has been the practice to carry out Grow-Out-Tests (GOT) to assess the genetic purity of hybrid seeds using morphological characters and is not always apparent and cannot be recognized easily. The recent developments in molecular biology have resulted in simple and easily assayable PCR based DNA marker techniques such as RAPD, ISSR and microsatellite markers which provide alternative approach for assessment of seed purity. Out of twenty-six primers only seven primers, namely BNL 2709, NAU 1190, BNL 3594, JESPR 297, NAU 1230, BNL 3995 and JESPR 151 were polymorphic between the parents for only five hybrids and were then used for genetic purity assessment of the five hybrids, namely NH 324, SVHH 139, RAHH 455, Super 971 BG II and NHH 715 and none of the 26 tested primers was suitable for assessing the genetic purity of Phule Suman hybrid. It can be concluded from the study that SSR markers are reliable, efficient and useful in discriminating the parental lines of the hybrids as well as for evaluating the genetic purity of hybrid seed lot. This will empower seed producers to screen and keep up adequate levels of genetic purity at every stage of seed production.