Whole Genome Resequencing of Cotton Tetraploids (Gossypium barbadense)

There are two species of cultivated allotetraploid cotton: Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense. G. hirsutum accounts for over 90% of worldwide cotton production, while G. barbadense (Egyptian cotton) is desirable because its longer fibers can be used for high quality textiles. Understanding the variation that exists within and between these two species will facilitate genetic improvement of cultivated cotton. We performed whole genome re-sequencing of 15 lines of G. barbadense to identify variations within G. barbadense and between G. barbadense and other Gossypium species for which whole genome sequence data is available (G. hirsutum, G. herbaceum, G. arboreum, G. raimondii, and G. longicalyx). These data provide insights into the evolution of polyploid cotton species, as well as forming a valuable resource to identify introgression between G. hirsutum and G. barbadense.