Potential Gene Flow Between <i>Gossypium hirsitum</i> and <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> Through Interspecific Hybridization

Abstract

The introduction of transgenic varieties of cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsitum</i>) in Cameroon has posed numerous concerns. One of the most concern was the horizontal transfer of the <i>Bt</i> gene to related species such as <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>. The current study was conducted to assess the occurrence <i>Bt</i> gene transfer from <i>Gossypium hirsitum </i>to<i> Abelmoschus esculentus</i>. To achieve this, the stigma receptivity periods and the viability of pollen grains were evaluated. The fruit set rates of 675 controlled intra- and interspecific crosses were assessed. The results showed that stigma receptivity and pollen grain viability are optimal at anthesis in both species, with a longer duration over 24 hours in <i>G. hirsitum</i>. Intra-specific crosses within the two species have shown fruit set rates of nearly 60-80%. Interspecific crosses gave a fruit set rate close to 2%, especially when <i>A. esculentus</i> is used as the female parent, and zero results in reciprocal crosses. The finding of the study pointed out that the possibility of horizontal transfer of a transgene to cotton relatives. In future studies, it would be useful to monitor the fate of seeds from interspecific crosses between both species and assess the agro-morphological and molecular characteristics of these possible hybrids.