Methods and Means to Modify Fiber Strength in Fiber-Producing Plants

摘要

This invention relates to the field of agriculture, more specifically to the use of molecular biology techniques to alter fiber-producing plants, particularly cotton plants, and/or accelerate breeding of such fiber-producing plants. Methods and means are provided to alter fiber qualities, such as increasing fiber strength. Methods are also provided to identify molecular markers associated with fiber strength in a population of cotton varieties and related progenitor plants.

主权项

1. A non-naturally occurring Gossypium hirsutum plant, and parts and progeny thereof, characterized in that the functional expression of at least one allele of at least one fiber-specific GLUC gene that is functionally expressed during the fiber strength building phase, in particular the fiber maturation phase, of fiber development is abolished, wherein the GLUC gene is a GLUC1.1A gene encoding a GLUC protein that has at least 97% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4.