A genetic approach to in vitro regeneration of non-regenerating cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars

Selections were made among individual plants of Gossypium hirsutum cv 'Coker 310' for high-frequency in vitro regeneration by somatic embryogenesis. After three generations of selection, a pure line for high-frequency somatic embryogenesis was selected and named Coker 310 FR (FR, fully regenerating). Coker 310 FR could be regenerated by following previously published protocols (see Materials and methods) and a modified protocol developed in this study that reduced the time necessary for in vitro regeneration. Coker 310 FR was crossed with individual plants of major cotton cultivars grown in India, namely 'MCU 5', 'MCU 7', 'Khandwa 2', 'Bikaneri Nerma', '0F 846' that have been shown to be recalcitrant to in vitro regeneration, to evaluate the regeneration potential of F1s. All the F1s showed regeneration by somatic embryogenesis. However, the F1 of G. barbadense×G. hirsutum Coker 310 FR did not regenerate