BackgroundUpland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is a very important cash crop known for its high quality natural fiber. Recent advances in sequencing technologies provide powerful tools with which to explore the cotton genome for single nucleotide polymorphism marker identification and high density genetic map construction toward more reliable quantitative trait locus mapping.ResultsIn the present study, a RIL population was developed by crossing a Chinese high fiber quality cultivar (Yumian 1) and an American high fiber quality line (CA3084), with distinct genetic backgrounds. Specific locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology was used to discover SNPs, and a genetic map containing 6254 SNPs was constructed, covering 3141.72 cM with an average distance of 0.5 cM between markers. A total of 95 QTL were detected for fiber quality traits in three environments, explaining 5.5-24.6% of the phenotypic variance. Fifty-five QTL found in multiple environments were considered stable QTL. Nine of the stable QTL were found in all three environments. We identified 14 QTL clusters on 13 chromosomes, each containing one or more stable QTL.ConclusionA high-density genetic map of Gossypium hirsutum developed by using specific locus amplified fragment sequencing technology provides detailed mapping of fiber quality QTL, and identification of ‘stable QTL’ found in multiple environments. A marker-rich genetic map provides a foundation for fine mapping, candidate gene identification and marker-assisted selection of favorable alleles at stable QTL in breeding programs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5294-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Cotton is one of the most important cash crops in the world, depending on fiber quality, yield, seed oil and protein content. Identifying QTL for fiber related and other agronomic traits will facilitate the genetic improvement in cotton. Results In this study, forty-seven QTL for fiber related traits were identified across four different environments and six of these QTL were detected in more than one environment, including two for lint percentage (qLP-D03-1 and qLP-D09-1), two for fiber length (qFL-A07-2 and qFL-D11-1), and two for fiber micronaire (qFM-A08-1 and qFM-D11-1), respectively. Four QTL clusters contained 12 QTL were distributed on four chromosomes including two in At subgenome and two in the Dt subgenome. Moreover, thirteen QTL by environment interactions (QEI) were recognized, including one for lint percentage, five for fiber length, three for fiber strength, two for fiber micronaire, one for fiber uniformity and one for fiber elongation, respectively. ConclusionSix QTL were detected in more than one environment and two environmentally stable QTL (qLP-D03-1 and qFM-A08-1) interacted significantly environment. The QTL detected in more than one environment could be useful for further fine-mapping and marker assisted selection in cotton.