Distant hybridization of cotton is an important approach for germplasm innovation and breeding of new varieties. In this study,the distant hybrid of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium sturtianum synthesized in the laboratory were used as materials and was identified in terms of morphology,cytogenetics and SSR molecular markers. Morphological analysis and comparison of the parents and hybrids were carried out from three aspects of plants,leaves and flowers respectively. Results showed that the hybrid plants were higher than that of the parents and the leaves were larger than that of the parents,demonstrating obvious heterosis. The colors of the leaves were emerald green,similar to that of the male parent. And the colors of the basal spots of hybrids were dark red,similar to that of the male parent. As for cytogenetics,pollen mother cell meiosis was observed in hybrids,and the results showed that there were many abnormal behaviors in the process of meiosis in sterile hybrid F1,among which diad,triad,tetrad and polyad accounted for 24.00%,10.40%,40.60% and 25.00%,respectively. In the tetrad,72.91% of normal tetrad and 27.09% of abnormal tetrad resulted in the formation of 24.00% abnormal pollen grains and 76.00% of normal pollen grains,which were the main reasons for hybrid sterility. Finally,the identification of SSR molecular marker showed that F1 hybrids not only amplified the complementary bands of the parents,but also amplified the specific bands that the parents did not have. The proportions of genetic components were as follows：7.69% for the male parent,34.62% for the female parent,23.07% for the parental complementary bands,and 34.62% for specific new bands. It is not only suggested that the gene recombination occurred in the hybridization process,but also confirmed that the hybrid was the true hybrid of G. hirsutum and G. sturtianum at the molecular level. At the same time,this study provides valuable materials for the genetic breeding and germplasm innovation of cotton.
