Journal of Cotton Science Publishes Article on Molecular Markers
The donation of molecular markers announced by Monsanto Company and Texas AgriLife in April has been completed today with the publication of an in-depth article in the current issue of the Journal of Cotton Science. “New SSR Markers for Use in Cotton (Gossypium spp.) Improvement” was authored by breeders from Monsanto, Texas A&M University and the United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service.
“The buzz around our making our SSR marker collection in cotton available to the public came in April but this publication is the start of progress in the scientific community,” according to John Purcell, global cotton technology lead for Monsanto. “Now cotton breeders around the world have access to detailed genetic information on a large group of varieties.”
Purcell adds, “Farmers are familiar with the improvement breeders can make on the farm with advances in yield potential, fiber quality and disease resistance. This donation to the public domain means hundreds of breeders will have better information to use in their programs.”
The marker set includes approximately 4,000 cotton molecular markers and associated information received significant attention from the cotton and scientific communities when announced. Cotton breeders anticipate discussing various projects that will benefit from the new information in cottonDB during the 2009 Cotton Breeder Tour later this month.
