ENHANCEMENT OF YIELD AND QUALITY OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.) THROUGH DIFFERENT MOLECULAR MARKERS

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a member of the Malvaceae family and the Gossypium genus, which contains 50 different species. Only four of these species, however, are commercially farmed. This study aims to evaluate the genetic diversity of wild and cultivated cotton gene pools, as well as QTL mapping and marker-assisted selection activities in cotton genetics. Various marker-based approaches, including RAPD, ISSR, AFLP, SSR, and SNP analysis, have been used to investigate genetic diversity, genotype correlations, and map saturation in cotton. These technologies have also assisted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the finding of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Furthermore, novel approaches such as linkage disequilibrium, association mapping, and genomic selection are applied to classic ideas such as genetic variation, QTL mapping, and marker-assisted selection (MAS). These genomic technologies can boost cotton productivity and meet global demand for high-yielding, high-quality cotton fiber by incorporating additional omics resources.