Fusarium wilt race 4 genetics in upland cotton
Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4), poses a significant threat to U.S. cotton production by infecting the roots and vascular systems of susceptible plants, leading to rapid wilting and death. To investigate the genetic basis of resistance to this pathogen, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted using an F3 bi-parental population derived from a cross between two Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cultivars, 'U1' and 'CSX8308'. Whole-genome resequencing was performed on F3 individuals, and their genotypes were associated with phenotypic data from field trials in FOV4-infested environments. Additionally, a transcriptomic analysis of 'U1' under in vitro FOV4 infection was conducted to identify gene expression signatures linked to resistance.