Genetics of D3 complementary lethality in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense.

The diploid taxon, Gossypium davidsonii Kell., induces embryonic or seedling lethality in crosses with most Gossypium taxa, including the cultivated tetraploid species, Gossypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L. Selection of a cross-compatible stock of G. barbadense, 15-4, made possible a study of the genetics of lethal complementation between G. davidsonii and the cultivated tetraploids. Two factors, Le1 and Le2, were identified in the stocks examined. Two other cottons, both G. hirsutum, were apparently monomeric for complementary lethal factors, one displaying evidence of being homozygous for Le1 and the other homozygous for Le2. The 15-4 line was assigned the genotype le1le1le2le2, and G. davidsonii harbors at least one allele, Ledav.