Association analysis of germination level cold stress tolerance and candidate gene identification in Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton originated from ancestors in the Gossypium genus that grew in semi-desert habitats. As a result, it is adversely affected by low temperatures especially during germination and the first weeks of growth. Despite this, there are relatively few molecular studies on cold stress in cotton. This limitation may present a future breeding handicap, as recent years have witnessed increased low temperature damage to cotton production. Cold tolerance is a sustainable approach to obtain good production in case of extreme cold. In the present study, 110 Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) genotypes were evaluated for cold tolerance at the germination stage. We identified vigorous genotypes with cold-related parameters that outperformed the panel’s average performance ( x = 76.9