Genetic Diversity and Molecular Marker Development for Cotton Breeding and Crop Improvement
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 663
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cotton breeding; genetics and genomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tetraploid Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the world’s most important fiber crop, is grown in more than 80 countries, and provides 35% of the total fiber used worldwide. It is also one of the most important oilseed crops, providing oil for food and fuel. Furthermore, cottonseed meal can be an important protein food source for human consumption after the toxic gossypol is removed, in addition to being used as animal feed. The low level of genetic variation within Upland cotton has hampered progress in breeding, although high genetic diversity exists within the cotton genus, it consisting of 48 diploid and 7 tetraploid species. There have been extensive genetic and breeding activities to introduce desirable genes from diploid and other tetraploid species into Upland cotton through interspecific crossing and backcrossing. However, introgression breeding is a long-term task and requires a better understanding of the genetic differences between Upland cotton and other species. This Special Issue aims to publish research and review papers dealing with all aspects of the study of the genetic diversity of cotton at the morphological, physiological, genetic, and molecular levels. That is, towards the improvement of cotton in terms of yield, fiber quality, seed quality, and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance/resistance. Manuscripts in relevant areas from other crop species are also welcome.
Prof. Dr. Jinfa Zhang
Dr. Yi Zhu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- upland cotton
- genetic diversity
- molecular marker
- cotton breeding
- crop improvement
- cotton
- disease resistance
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