Abstract: Using the hybridization progeny line 596 with rich genetic background of island cotton, upland cotton and wild species as female, early-maturity and high yield line 79-366 as male by the means of transfering in distant germplasm, modifying the genetic background, successive selfcrossing and speeding up generation, the new line 492 was obtained in 1990. The 492 is a high quality cotton line because many good characteristies, which include early-maturity, high and stable yield, high fibre quality, multiresistance(diease, drought, bollworn and boll-rotten resistance)and easy management. are co-ordinated at high level. In 1992-1993, in the Hebei Regional Tests and Regional Production Tests of cotton varieties, the lint yield of492 increased by 1.76% and 1.09% compared to that of Zhongmian 20 (ck) and ranked the top in yield among the tested lines. As the first variety bred through distant crossing among upland, island and wild cotton species.

Key words: Cotton, Breeding, Distant hybridization variety, Broad resistance, High yield, Fiber quality