Genome-wide SSR-based association mapping for fiber quality in nation-wide upland cotton inbreed cultivars in China

Background Since upland cotton was introduced into China during the 1920s–1950s, hundreds of inbreed cultivars have been developed. To explore the molecular diversity, population structure and elite alleles, 503 inbred cultivars developed in China and some foreign cultivars from the United States and the Soviet Union were collected and analyzed by 494 genome-wide SSRs (Simple Sequence Repeats).