Research Article Genetic diversity of arboreal cotton populations of the Brazilian semiarid: a remnant primary gene pool for cotton cultivars.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Mocó cotton belong to the same species as the cultivated species, Gossypium hirsutum, and cultivated forms were mainly landraces but also developed as cultivars, bearing good fiber quality and drought tolerant when cropped as a perennial species. The northeast Brazil crop system based on this cotton type is finished, with a few small area planted in the three main States, where it was previously cultivated (Ceará, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte), but in others, maintenance is accomplished by single dooryard plants. Plants were found in all visited Northeast Brazil municipalities, sometimes in the North of the country, and were collected for ex situ preservation and evaluation. Most of seeds had no fuzz (62.2%) and 94.6% of the genotypes presented spot in flowers. Seventy-one alleles were revealed in 12 loci. The genetic structure of the population evaluated by microsatellite markers shows two main groups, one comprising the Seridó region where landraces were originated and other comprising 2 I.P.P. de Menezes et al. Genetics and Molecular Research 16 (3): gmr16039659 the state of Ceará, where a specific breeding program was developed. Genotypes collected in North Brazil States as well as those collected in Bahia, Alagoas, and Sergipe grouped with those collected in Ceará. The Mantel correlogram indicates a significant (P < 0.05) correlation between genetic and geographical distances up to 77 km. The ex situ maintenance and agronomical evaluation are the main concerns for mocó, as the use of the agricultural interesting traits, possibly introgressed to other genotypes, is predicted. The in situ preservation is still of interest since there is more diversity there than in the collected plants and some should be continued due to use as medicinal plant.

Challenges and Opportunities for in situ Maintenance of the Native Brazilian Cotton Gossypium mustelinum Miers

“…marie galante, gradually replaced G. barbadense in the interior of Northeast Brazil. It was widely cultivated in the semi-arid region of the Northeast until the 1980s, when socioeconomic and phytosanitary issues caused its decline and almost disappearance as an economic activity (Menezes et al, 2010(Menezes et al, , 2017. A smaller area of upland cotton (G. hirsutum var.…”

Genetic polymorphism detection in brazilian perennial cottons (Gossypium spp.) using an ISSR marker system and its application for molecular interspecific differentiation

“…The cotton bre (Gossypium L.) consumed by the Brazilian textile industry comes from modern upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. latifolium). In the past, this raw material was mainly obtained from perennial cotton species: Gossypium hirsutum L. r. marie-galante and Gossypium barbadense L. These allotetraploid species are not native to Brazil but are widely distributed and adapted to conditions there, which is considered a secondary diversity centre of the genus Gossypium L. [1][2][3]. The G. barbadense L. (kidney-cotton and non-aggregated seeds races) and G. hirsutum L. r. mariegalante (mocó cotton ecotype) are found "in situ" in the form of subsistence crops, semi-wild populations and dooryard plants [4][5].…”

Qualitative parameters and nutritional potential of arboreal cotton silage

“…B.Hutch.]. This plant has a high level of genetic diversity in this region (Menezes et al, 2017). In years of intense droughts, after the harvesting of feathers, the use of plant leaves in the diets contributes to the nutritional supplementation to feed cattle (Menezes et al, 2015(Menezes et al, , 2017.…”