Metabolomic and transcriptomic insights into how cotton fiber transitions to secondary wall synthesis, represses lignification, and prolongs elongation

A cell fractionation and quantitative proteomics pipeline to enable functional analyses of cotton fiber development

Cotton fibers are aerial trichoblasts that employ a highly polarized diffuse growth mechanism to emerge from the developing ovule epidermis. After executing a complicated morphogenetic program, the cells reach lengths over 2 cm and serve as the foundation of a multi-billion-dollar textile industry. Important traits such as fiber diameter, length, and strength are defined by the growth patterns and cell wall properties of individual cells. At present, the ability to engineer fiber traits is limited by our lack of understanding regarding the primary controls governing the rate, duration, and patterns of cell growth. To gain insights into the compartmentalized functions of proteins in cotton fiber cells, we developed a label-free liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method for systems-level analyses of fiber proteome. Purified fibers from a single locule were used to fractionate the fiber proteome into apoplast (APOT), membrane-associated (p200), and crude cytosolic (s200) fractions. Subsequently, proteins were identified, and their localizations and potential functions were analyzed using combinations of size exclusion chromatography, statistical and bioinformatic analyses. This method had good coverage of the p200 and APOT fractions, the latter of which was dominated by proteins associated with particulate membrane-enclosed compartments. The apoplastic proteome was diverse, the proteins were not degraded, and some displayed distinct multimerization states compared to their cytosolic pool. This quantitative proteomic pipeline can be used to improve coverage and functional analyses of the cotton fiber proteome as a function of developmental time or differing genotypes.

COBRA-LIKE 9 modulates cotton cell wall development via regulating cellulose deposition

Plant cell walls are complex and dynamic cellular structures critical for plant growth, development, physiology, and adaptation. Cellulose is one of the most important components of the cell wall. However, how cellulose microfibrils deposit and assemble into crystalline cellulose remains elusive. The COBRA-LIKE plant-specific protein family plays a vital role in modulating the deposition and orientation of cellulose microfibril in plant cell walls. Here, we investigate the role of GhCOBL9 in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fiber development, an ideal model for studying cell elongation and cell wall thickening. The expression period of GhCOBL9 is consistent with the thickening stage of the secondary wall of cotton fibers. Overexpression of GhCOBL9 results in increased cellulose content in the cell wall and produces shorter, thicker, and stronger fibers, while RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated downregulation of GhCOBL9 leads to the opposite phenotypes, indicating its crucial role in cell wall development. Subcellular localization and binding activity assays reveal that GhCOBL9 targets the cell wall and binds to crystalline cellulose with high affinity. Transcriptomic analysis of GhCOBL9 transgenic lines uncovers expression alterations in genes related to cellulose and monosaccharide biosynthesis. Furthermore, we identify a fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 9 (GhFLA9) as an interacting partner of GhCOBL9 to modulate cell wall development. Additionally, the R2R3-MYB transcription factor GhMYB46-5 activates GhCOBL9 expression by binding to the MYB46-responsive cis-regulatory element in the GhCOBL9 promoter. These findings broaden our knowledge of COBL function in modulating plant cell wall development.

Daily glycome and transcriptome profiling reveals polysaccharide structures and correlated glycosyltransferases critical for cotton fiber growth

Cotton fiber is the most valuable naturally available material for the textile industry and the fiber length and strength are key determinants of its quality. Dynamic changes in the pectin, xyloglucan, xylan, and cellulose polysaccharide epitope content during fiber growth contribute to complex remodeling of fiber cell wall (CW) and quality. Detailed knowledge about polysaccharide compositional and structural alteration in the fiber during fiber elongation and strengthening is important to understand the molecular dynamics of fiber development and improve its quality. Here, large-scale glycome profiling coupled with fiber phenotype and transcriptome profiling was conducted on fiber collected daily covering the most critical window of fiber development. The profiling studies with high temporal resolution allowed us to identify specific polysaccharide epitopes associated with distinct fiber phenotypes that might contribute to fiber quality. This study revealed the critical role of highly branched RG-I pectin epitopes such as β-1,4-linked-galactans, β-1,6-linked-galactans, and arabinogalactans, in addition to earlier reported homogalacturonans and xyloglucans in the formation of cotton fiber middle lamella and contributing to fiber plasticity and elongation. We also propose the essential role of heteroxylans (Xyl-MeGlcA and Xyl-3Ar), as a guiding factor for secondary CW cellulose microfibril arrangement, thus contributing to fiber strength. Correlation analysis of profiles of polysaccharide epitopes from glycome data and expression profiles of glycosyltransferase-encoding genes from transcriptome data identified several key putative glycosyltransferases that are potentially involved in synthesizing the critical polysaccharide epitopes. The findings of this study provide a foundation to identify molecular factors that dictate important fiber traits.

Downregulation of the GhROD1 Gene Improves Cotton Fiber Fineness by Decreasing Acyl Pool Saturation, Stimulating Small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs), and Reducing H2O2 Production

Cotton fiber is one of the most important natural fiber sources in the world, and lipid metabolism plays a critical role in its development. However, the specific role of lipid molecules in fiber development and the impact of fatty acid alterations on fiber quality remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that the downregulation of GhROD1, a gene encoding phosphatidylcholine diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase (PDCT), results in an improvement of fiber fineness. We found that GhROD1 downregulation significantly increases the proportion of linoleic acid (18:2) in cotton fibers, which subsequently upregulates genes encoding small heat shock proteins (sHSPs). This, in turn, reduces H2O2 production, thus delaying secondary wall deposition and leading to finer fibers. Our findings reveal how alterations in linoleic acid influence cellulose synthesis and suggest a potential strategy to improve cotton fiber quality by regulating lipid metabolism pathways.

Expression profile analysis of cotton fiber secondary cell wall thickening stage

To determine the genes associated with the fiber strength trait in cotton, three different cotton cultivars were selected: Sea Island cotton (Xinhai 32, with hyper-long fibers labeled as HL), and upland cotton (17-24, with long fibers labeled as L, and 62-33, with short fibers labeled as S). These cultivars were chosen to assess fiber samples with varying qualities. RNA-seq technology was used to analyze the expression profiles of cotton fibers at the secondary cell wall (SCW) thickening stage (20, 25, and 30 days post-anthesis (DPA)). The results showed that a large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the three assessed cotton cultivars at different stages of SCW development. For instance, at 20 DPA, Sea Island cotton (HL) had 6,215 and 5,364 DEGs compared to upland cotton 17-24 (L) and 62-33 (S), respectively. Meanwhile, there were 1,236 DEGs between two upland cotton cultivars, 17-24 (L) and 62-33 (S). Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment identified 42 functions, including 20 biological processes, 11 cellular components, and 11 molecular functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis identified several pathways involved in SCW synthesis and thickening, such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, galactose metabolism, propanoate metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathway, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, fatty acid elongation pathways, and plant hormone signal transduction. Through the identification of shared DEGs, 46 DEGs were found to exhibit considerable expressional differences at different fiber stages from the three cotton cultivars. These shared DEGs have functions including REDOX enzymes, binding proteins, hydrolases (such as GDSL thioesterase), transferases, metalloproteins (cytochromatin-like genes), kinases, carbohydrates, and transcription factors (MYB and WRKY). Therefore, RT-qPCR was performed to verify the expression levels of nine of the 46 identified DEGs, an approach which demonstrated the reliability of RNA-seq data. Our results provided valuable molecular resources for clarifying the cell biology of SCW biosynthesis during fiber development in cotton.

The Increased aspartate levels in transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lead to improved tolerance against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, Gennadius)

The whitefly, a polyphagous insect pest feeding on nearly 1328 plant species, is a major threat to global cotton production and incurs up to 50% yield losses in cotton production in Pakistan. We investigated whether increased aspartate in phloem sap imparts whitefly toxicity and protects cotton plants from intense damage. The enzymatic step for aspartate production is carried through aspartate aminotransferase (AAT). In this study, we constitutively overexpressed the Oryza sativa cytoplasmic AAT (OsAAT2) under the CaMV35S promoter in Gossypium hirsutum cv. CIM-482. Real-time PCR analysis of the AAT transcripts revealed a 2.85- to 31.7-fold increase in mRNA levels between the different cotton lines. A substantial increase in the free-amino acid content of the major N-assimilation and transport amino acids (aspartate, glutamate, asparagine, and glutamine) was seen in the phloem sap of the transgenic cotton lines. The bioassay revealed that the two transgenic cotton lines with the highest free aspartate content in the phloem sap exhibited 97 and 94% mortality in the adult whitefly population and a 98 and 96% decline in subsequent nymph populations, respectively. There was also a significant change in the physiological behaviour of the transgenic cotton lines, with an increased net assimilation (A), gaseous exchange (Gs) and rate of transpiration (E). Improved morphological characteristics like plant height, total number of bolls and fiber yield were recorded in transgenic cotton lines. The AAT gene shows promise in mitigating whitefly infestations and enhancing the overall health and yield of cotton plants.

The plant cell wall-dynamic, strong, and adaptable-is a natural shapeshifter

Mythology is replete with good and evil shapeshifters, who, by definition, display great adaptability and assume many different forms-with several even turning themselves into trees. Cell walls certainly fit this definition as they can undergo subtle or dramatic changes in structure, assume many shapes, and perform many functions. In this review, we cover the evolution of knowledge of the structures, biosynthesis, and functions of the 5 major cell wall polymer types that range from deceptively simple to fiendishly complex. Along the way, we recognize some of the colorful historical figures who shaped cell wall research over the past 100 years. The shapeshifter analogy emerges more clearly as we examine the evolving proposals for how cell walls are constructed to allow growth while remaining strong, the complex signaling involved in maintaining cell wall integrity and defense against disease, and the ways cell walls adapt as they progress from birth, through growth to maturation, and in the end, often function long after cell death. We predict the next century of progress will include deciphering cell type-specific wall polymers; regulation at all levels of polymer production, crosslinks, and architecture; and how walls respond to developmental and environmental signals to drive plant success in diverse environments.

Synergistic interplay of redox homeostasis and polysaccharide synthesis promotes cotton fiber elongation

Cell polarity is the foundation of cell development and tissue morphogenesis. The investigation of polarized growth provides opportunities to gain profound insights into morphogenesis and tissue functionality in organisms. Currently, there are still many mysteries surrounding the mechanisms that regulate polarized cell growth. Cotton fiber cells serve as an excellent model for studying polarized growth, and provide important clues for unraveling the molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and regulatory networks of polarized growth. In this study, we characterized two functional genes, GhMDHAR1AT/DT and GhDHAR2AT/DT with predominant expression during fiber elongation. Loss of function of both genes contributed to a significant increase in fiber length. Transcriptomic data revealed up-regulated expression of antioxidant genes in CRISPR mutant lines, along with delayed expression of secondary wall-related genes and temporally prolonged expression of primary wall-related genes. Experimental evidence demonstrated that the increase in GSH content and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzyme activity led to enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), resulting in reduced H2O2 levels, which contributed to the extension of fiber elongation stage in CRISPR mutant lines. Moreover, the increased polysaccharide synthesis in CRISPR mutant lines was found to provide an abundant supply of raw materials for fiber cell wall elongation, suggesting that synergistic interplay between redox homeostasis and polysaccharide synthesis in fiber cells may facilitate cell wall remodeling and fiber elongation. This study provides valuable insights for deciphering the mechanisms of cell polarized growth and improving cotton fiber quality.

Domestication over Speciation in Allopolyploid Cotton Species: A Stronger Transcriptomic Pull

Cotton has been domesticated independently four times for its fiber, but the genomic targets of selection during each domestication event are mostly unknown. Comparative analysis of the transcriptome during cotton fiber development in wild and cultivated materials holds promise for revealing how independent domestications led to the superficially similar modern cotton fiber phenotype in upland (G. hirsutum) and Pima (G. barbadense) cotton cultivars. Here we examined the fiber transcriptomes of both wild and domesticated G. hirsutum and G. barbadense to compare the effects of speciation versus domestication, performing differential gene expression analysis and coexpression network analysis at four developmental timepoints (5, 10, 15, or 20 days after flowering) spanning primary and secondary wall synthesis. These analyses revealed extensive differential expression between species, timepoints, domestication states, and particularly the intersection of domestication and species. Differential expression was higher when comparing domesticated accessions of the two species than between the wild, indicating that domestication had a greater impact on the transcriptome than speciation. Network analysis showed significant interspecific differences in coexpression network topology, module membership, and connectivity. Despite these differences, some modules or module functions were subject to parallel domestication in both species. Taken together, these results indicate that independent domestication led G. hirsutum and G. barbadense down unique pathways but that it also leveraged similar modules of coexpression to arrive at similar domesticated phenotypes.

Transcriptome, Ectopic Expression and Genetic Population Analysis Identify Candidate Genes for Fiber Quality Improvement in Cotton

Comparative transcriptome analysis of fiber tissues between Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum could reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying high-quality fiber formation and identify candidate genes for fiber quality improvement. In this study, 759 genes were found to be strongly upregulated at the elongation stage in G. barbadense, which showed four distinct expression patterns (I-IV). Among them, the 346 genes of group IV stood out in terms of the potential to promote fiber elongation, in which we finally identified 42 elongation-related candidate genes by comparative transcriptome analysis between G. barbadense and G. hirsutum. Subsequently, we overexpressed GbAAR3 and GbTWS1, two of the 42 candidate genes, in Arabidopsis plants and validated their roles in promoting cell elongation. At the secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis stage, 2275 genes were upregulated and exhibited five different expression profiles (I-V) in G. barbadense. We highlighted the critical roles of the 647 genes of group IV in SCW biosynthesis and further picked out 48 SCW biosynthesis-related candidate genes by comparative transcriptome analysis. SNP molecular markers were then successfully developed to distinguish the SCW biosynthesis-related candidate genes from their G. hirsutum orthologs, and the genotyping and phenotyping of a BC3F5 population proved their potential in improving fiber strength and micronaire. Our results contribute to the better understanding of the fiber quality differences between G. barbadense and G. hirsutum and provide novel alternative genes for fiber quality improvement.

Cotton fiber as a model for understanding shifts in cell development under domestication

Cotton fiber provides the predominant plant textile in the world, and it is also a model for plant cell wall biosynthesis. The development of the single-celled cotton fiber takes place across several overlapping but discrete stages, including fiber initiation, elongation, the transition from elongation to secondary cell wall formation, cell wall thickening, and maturation and cell death. During each stage, the developing fiber undergoes a complex restructuring of genome-wide gene expression change and physiological/biosynthetic processes, which ultimately generate a strikingly elongated and nearly pure cellulose product that forms the basis of the global cotton industry. Here, we provide an overview of this developmental process focusing both on its temporal as well as evolutionary dimensions. We suggest potential avenues for further improvement of cotton as a crop plant.

Effect of the photoperiod on bud dormancy in Liriodendron chinense

Bud dormancy and its release are complex physiological phenomena in plants. The molecular mechanisms of bud dormancy in Liriodendron chinense are mainly unknown. Here, we studied bud dormancy and the related physiological and molecular phenomena in Liriodendron under long-day (LD) and short-day (SD). Bud burst was released faster under LD than under SD. Abscisic acid (ABA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were increased significantly under LD in Liriodendron buds. In contrast, the contents of gibberellic acid (GA3), ascorbic acid (AsA), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity decreased under LD but increased under SD. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated under LD and down-regulated under SD and these changes correspondingly promoted (LD) or repressed (SD) cell division and the number and/or size of cells in the bud. Transcriptomic analysis of Liriodendron buds under different photoperiods identified 187 DEGs enriched in several pathways such as flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone and signal transduction, etc. that are associated with antioxidant enzymes, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and subsequently promote the growth of the buds. Our findings provide novel insights into regulating bud dormancy via flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone and signal transduction pathways, and ABA content. These physiological and biochemical traits would help detect bud dormancy in plants.

Efficient imaging and computer vision detection of two cell shapes in young cotton fibers

Premise

The shape of young cotton (Gossypium) fibers varies within and between commercial cotton species, as revealed by previous detailed analyses of one cultivar of G. hirsutum and one of G. barbadense. Both narrow and wide fibers exist in G. hirsutum cv. Deltapine 90, which may impact the quality of our most abundant renewable textile material. More efficient cellular phenotyping methods are needed to empower future research efforts.

Methods

We developed semi-automated imaging methods for young cotton fibers and a novel machine learning algorithm for the rapid detection of tapered (narrow) or hemisphere (wide) fibers in homogeneous or mixed populations.

Results

The new methods were accurate for diverse accessions of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense and at least eight times more efficient than manual methods. Narrow fibers dominated in the three G. barbadense accessions analyzed, whereas the three G. hirsutum accessions showed a mixture of tapered and hemisphere fibers in varying proportions.

Discussion

The use or adaptation of these improved methods will facilitate experiments with higher throughput to understand the biological factors controlling the variable shapes of young cotton fibers or other elongating single cells. This research also enables the exploration of links between early cell shape and mature cotton fiber quality in diverse field-grown cotton accessions.

Analysis of transcriptome data and quantitative trait loci enables the identification of candidate genes responsible for fiber strength in Gossypium barbadense

Gossypium barbadense possesses a superior fiber quality because of its fiber length and strength. An in-depth analysis of the underlying genetic mechanism could aid in filling the gap in research regarding fiber strength and could provide helpful information for Gossypium barbadense breeding. Three quantitative trait loci related to fiber strength were identified from a Gossypium barbadense recombinant inbred line (PimaS-7 × 5917) for further analysis. RNA sequencing was performed in the fiber tissues of PimaS-7 × 5917 0–35 days postanthesis. Four specific modules closely related to the secondary wall-thickening stage were obtained using the weighted gene coexpression network analysis. In total, 55 genes were identified as differentially expressed from 4 specific modules. Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used for enrichment analysis, and Gbar_D11G032910, Gbar_D08G020540, Gbar_D08G013370, Gbar_D11G033670, and Gbar_D11G029020 were found to regulate fiber strength by playing a role in the composition of structural constituents of cytoskeleton and microtubules during fiber development. Quantitative real-time PCR results confirmed the accuracy of the transcriptome data. This study provides a quick strategy for exploring candidate genes and provides new insights for improving fiber strength in cotton.

Cotton Breeding in Australia: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) cotton breeding program is the sole breeding effort for cotton in Australia, developing high performing cultivars for the local industry which is worth∼AU$3 billion per annum. The program is supported by Cotton Breeding Australia, a Joint Venture between CSIRO and the program's commercial partner, Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd. (CSD). While the Australian industry is the focus, CSIRO cultivars have global impact in North America, South America, and Europe. The program is unique compared with many other public and commercial breeding programs because it focuses on diverse and integrated research with commercial outcomes. It represents the full research pipeline, supporting extensive long-term fundamental molecular research; native and genetically modified (GM) trait development; germplasm enhancement focused on yield and fiber quality improvements; integration of third-party GM traits; all culminating in the release of new commercial cultivars. This review presents evidence of past breeding successes and outlines current breeding efforts, in the areas of yield and fiber quality improvement, as well as the development of germplasm that is resistant to pests, diseases and abiotic stressors. The success of the program is based on the development of superior germplasm largely through field phenotyping, together with strong commercial partnerships with CSD and Bayer CropScience. These relationships assist in having a shared focus and ensuring commercial impact is maintained, while also providing access to markets, traits, and technology. The historical successes, current foci and future requirements of the CSIRO cotton breeding program have been used to develop a framework designed to augment our breeding system for the future. This will focus on utilizing emerging technologies from the genome to phenome, as well as a panomics approach with data management and integration to develop, test and incorporate new technologies into a breeding program. In addition to streamlining the breeding pipeline for increased genetic gain, this technology will increase the speed of trait and marker identification for use in genome editing, genomic selection and molecular assisted breeding, ultimately producing novel germplasm that will meet the coming challenges of the 21st Century.

Transcriptome Time-Course Analysis in the Whole Period of Cotton Fiber Development

Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense are the widely cultivated tetraploid cottons around the world, which evolved great differences in the fiber yield and quality due to the independent domestication process. To reveal the genetic basis of the difference, we integrated 90 samples from ten time points during the fiber developmental period for investigating the dynamics of gene expression changes associated with fiber in G. hirsutum acc. TM-1 and G. barbadense cv. Hai7124 and acc. 3-79. Globally, 44,484 genes expressed in all three cultivars account for 61.14% of the total genes. About 61.39% (N = 3,412) of the cotton transcription factors were involved in fiber development, which consisted of 58 cotton TF families. The differential analysis of intra- and interspecies showed that 3 DPA had more expression changes. To discover the genes with temporally changed expression profiles during the whole fiber development, 1,850 genes predominantly expressed in G. hirsutum and 1,050 in G. barbadense were identified, respectively. Based on the weighted gene co-expression network and time-course analysis, several candidate genes, mainly involved in the secondary cell wall synthesis and phytohormones, were identified in this study, underlying possibly the transcriptional regulation and molecular mechanisms of the fiber quality differences between G. barbadense and G. hirsutum. The quantitative real-time PCR validation of the candidate genes was consistent with the RNA-seq data. Our study provides a strong rationale for the analysis of gene function and breeding of high-quality cotton.

Nitrogen use efficiency in cotton: Challenges and opportunities against environmental constraints

Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for agricultural, and a defieciency of it causes stagnate cotton growth and yield penalty. Farmers rely heavily on N over-application to boost cotton output, which can result in decreased lint yield, quality, and N use efficiency (NUE). Therefore, improving NUE in cotton is most crucial for reducing environmental nitrate pollution and increasing farm profitability. Well-defined management practices, such as the type of sources, N-rate, application time, application method, crop growth stages, and genotypes, have a notable impact on NUE. Different N formulations, such as slow and controlled released fertilizers, have been shown to improve N uptake and, NUE. Increasing N rates are said to boost cotton yield, although high rates may potentially impair the yield depending on the soil and environmental conditions. This study comprehensively reviews various factors including agronomic and environmental constraints that influence N uptake, transport, accumulation, and ultimately NUE in cotton. Furthermore, we explore several agronomic and molecular approaches to enhance efficiency for better N uptake and utilization in cotton. Finally, this objective of this review to highlight a comprehensive view on enhancement of NUE in cotton and could be useful for understanding the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanism of N in cotton.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of GhCOMT Gene Family during Fiber Development and Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Cotton

Caffeic acid O-methyltransferases (COMTs) play an essential role in lignin synthesis procession, especially in the plant’s phenylalanine metabolic pathway. The content of COMT genes in cotton and the relationship between their expression patterns have not been studied clearly in cotton. In this study, we have identified 190 COMT genes in cotton, which were classified into three groups (I, II and III), and mapped on the cotton chromosomes. In addition, we found that 135 of the 190 COMT genes result from dispersed duplication (DSD) and whole-genome duplication (WGD), indicating that DSD and WGD were the main forces driving COMT gene expansion. The Ka/Ks analysis showed that GhCOMT43 and GhCOMT41 evolved from GaCOMT27 and GrCOMT14 through positive selection. The results of qRT-PCR showed that GhCOMT13, GhCOMT28, GhCOMT39 and GhCOMT55 were related to lignin content during the cotton fiber development. GhCOMT28, GhCOMT39, GhCOMT55, GhCOMT56 and GhCOMT57 responded to Verticillium Wilt (VW) and maybe related to VW resistance through lignin synthesis. Conclusively, this study found that GhCOMTs were highly expressed in the secondary wall thickening stage and VW. These results provide a clue for studying the functions of GhCOMTs in the development of cotton fiber and VW resistance and could lay a foundation for breeding cotton cultivates with higher quantity and high resistance to VW.

Phenotypic effects of changes in the FTVTxK region of an Arabidopsis secondary wall cellulose synthase compared with results from analogous mutations in other isoforms

Understanding protein structure and function relationships in cellulose synthase (CesA), including divergent isomers, is an important goal. Here, we report results from mutant complementation assays that tested the ability of sequence variants of AtCesA7, a secondary wall CesA of Arabidopsis thaliana, to rescue the collapsed vessels, short stems, and low cellulose content of the irx3-1 AtCesA7 null mutant. We tested a catalytic null mutation and seven missense or small domain changes in and near the AtCesA7 FTVTSK motif, which lies near the catalytic domain and may, analogously to bacterial CesA, exist within a substrate "gating loop." A low-to-high gradient of rescue occurred, and even inactive AtCesA7 had a small positive effect on stem cellulose content but not stem elongation. Overall, secondary wall cellulose content and stem length were moderately correlated, but the results were consistent with threshold amounts of cellulose supporting particular developmental processes. Vibrational sum frequency generation microscopy allowed tissue-specific analysis of cellulose content in stem xylem and interfascicular fibers, revealing subtle differences between selected genotypes that correlated with the extent of rescue of the collapsing xylem phenotype. Similar tests on PpCesA5 from the moss Physcomitrium (formerly Physcomitrella) patens helped us to synergize the AtCesA7 results with prior results on AtCesA1 and PpCesA5. The cumulative results show that the FTVTxK region is important for the function of an angiosperm secondary wall CesA as well as widely divergent primary wall CesAs, while differences in complementation results between isomers may reflect functional differences that can be explored in further work.

Correlation analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome reveals the role of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in regulating axillary buds in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Flavonoids are involved in axillary bud development in upland cotton. The phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways regulate axillary bud growth by promoting the transport of auxin in upland cotton. In cotton production, simplified cultivation and mechanical harvesting are emerging trends that depend on whether the cotton plant type meets production requirements. The axillary bud is an important index of cotton plant-type traits, and the molecular mechanism of axillary bud development in upland cotton has not yet been completely studied. Here, a combined investigation of transcriptome and metabolome analyses in G. hirsutum CCRI 117 at the fourth week (stage 1), fifth week (stage 2) and sixth week (stage 3) after seedling emergence was performed. The metabolome results showed that the total lipid, amino acid and organic acid contents in the first stalk node decreased during axillary bud development. The abundance of 71 metabolites was altered between stage 2 and stage 1, and 32 metabolites exhibited significantly altered abundance between stage 3 and stage 2. According to the correlation analysis of metabolome and transcriptome profiles, we found that phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways exhibit high enrichment degrees of both differential metabolites and differential genes in three stages. Based on the verification of hormone, soluble sugar and flavonoid detection, we propose a model for flavonoid-mediated regulation of axillary bud development in upland cotton, revealing that the decrease in secondary metabolites of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis is an essential factor to promote the transport of auxin and subsequently promote the growth of axillary buds. Our findings provide novel insights into the regulation of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis in axillary bud development and could prove useful for cultivating machine-harvested cotton varieties with low axillary buds.

Identification and functional analysis of 9-cis-epoxy carotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) homologs in G. hirsutum

9-cis-epoxy carotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is a fundamental enzyme, which plays an essential role in the process of organ development and stress resistance by regulating abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis in plant. In this study, a total of 7, 7, 14 and 14 NCED genes were identified from the genomes of G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum, respectively. Phylogenetic tree showed that all forty-two NCED genes could be classified into three groups in cotton genus. Collinear analysis revealed that the NCED genes in G. hirsutum were not amplified by tandem repeats after polyploidy events. The function of NCED genes was evaluated between two accessions with contrasting plant height. The results showed that expression of the NCED genes in dwarf accession was higher than that in taller ones. GhNCED1-silenced cotton plants confirmed that suppression of NCED genes could increase the plant height, but reduce the resistance abilities to drought and salt stress. Our study systematically identified the homologs of NCED genes and their functions in cotton, which could provide new genetic resources for improving plant height and stress in future cotton breeding.

Genome-wide characterization of the WAK gene family and expression analysis under plant hormone treatment in cotton

BACKGROUND

Wall-associated kinases (WAK), one of the receptor-like kinases (RLK), function directly in the connection and communication between the plant cell wall and the cytoplasm. WAK genes are highly conserved and have been identified in plants, such as rice, but there is little research on the WAK gene family in cotton.

RESULTS

In the present study, we identified 29 GhWAK genes in Gossypium hirsutum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that cotton WAK proteins can be divided into five clades. The results of synteny and Ka/Ks analysis showed that the GhWAK genes mainly originated from whole genome duplication (WGD) and were then mainly under purifying selection. Transcriptome data and real-time PCR showed that 97% of GhWAK genes highly expressed in cotton fibers and ovules. β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining assays showed that GhWAK5 and GhWAK16 expressed in Arabidopsis leaf trichomes. Fourteen GhWAK genes were found to possess putative gibberellin (GA) response elements in the promoter regions, 13 of which were significantly induced by GA treatment. Ten GhWAK genes contained auxin (IAA) response elements and the expression level of nine GhWAKs significantly increased under auxin treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide a preliminary analysis of the WAK gene family in G. hirsutum, which sheds light on the potantial roles of GhWAK genes in cotton fiber cell development. Our data also provides a useful resource for future studies on the functional roles of GhWAK genes.

Microtubules exert early, partial, and variable control of cotton fiber diameter

Variable cotton fiber diameter is set early in anisotropic elongation by cell-type-specific processes involving the temporal and spatial regulation of microtubules in the apical region. Cotton fibers are single cells that originate from the seed epidermis of Gossypium species. Then, they undergo extreme anisotropic elongation and limited diametric expansion. The details of cellular morphogenesis determine the quality traits that affect fiber uses and value, such as length, strength, and diameter. Lower and more consistent diameter would increase the competitiveness of cotton fiber with synthetic fiber, but we do not know how this trait is controlled. The complexity of the question is indicated by the existence of fibers in two major width classes in the major commercial species: broad and narrow fibers exist in commonly grown G. hirsutum, whereas G. barbadense produces only narrow fiber. To further understand how fiber diameter is controlled, we used ovule cultures, morphology measurements, and microtubule immunofluorescence to observe the effects of microtubule antagonists on fiber morphology, including shape and diameter within 80 µm of the apex. The treatments were applied at either one or two days post-anthesis during different stages of fiber morphogenesis. The results showed that inhibiting the presence and/or dynamic activity of microtubules caused larger diameter tips to form, with greater effects often observed with earlier treatment. The presence and geometry of a microtubule-depleted-zone below the apex were transiently correlated with the apical diameter of the narrow tip types. Similarly, the microtubule antagonists had somewhat different effects between tip types. Overall, the results demonstrate cell-type-specific mechanisms regulating fiber expansion within 80 µm of the apex, with variation in the impact of microtubules between tip types and over developmental time.

Investigation for a multi-silique trait in Brassica napus by alternative splicing analysis

Background

Flower and fruit development are vital stages of the angiosperm lifecycle. We previously investigated the multi-silique trait in the rapeseed (Brassica napus) line zws-ms on a genomic and transcriptomic level, leading to the identification of two genomic regions and several candidate genes associated with this trait. However, some events on the transcriptome level, like alternative splicing, were poorly understood.

Methods

Plants from zws-ms and its near-isogenic line (NIL) zws-217 were both grown in Xindu with normal conditions and a colder area Ma'erkang. Buds from the two lines were sampled and RNA was isolated to perform the transcriptomic sequencing. The numbers and types of alternative splicing (AS) events from the two lines were counted and classified. Genes with AS events and expressed differentially between the two lines, as well as genes with AS events which occurred in only one line were emphasized. Their annotations were further studied.

Results

From the plants in Xindu District, an average of 205,496 AS events, which could be sorted into five AS types, were identified. zws-ms and zws-217 shared highly similar ratios of each AS type: The alternative 5' and 3' splice site types were the most common, while the exon skipping type was observed least often. Eleven differentially expressed AS genes were identified, of which four were upregulated and seven were downregulated in zws-ms. Their annotations implied that five of these genes were directly associated with the multi-silique trait. While samples from colder area Ma'erkang generated generally reduced number of each type of AS events except for Intron Retention; but the number of differentially expressed AS genes increased significantly. Further analysis found that among the 11 differentially expressed AS genes from Xindu, three of them maintained the same expression models, while the other eight genes did not show significant difference between the two lines in expression level. Additionally, the 205 line-specific expressed AS genes were analyzed, of which 187 could be annotated, and two were considered to be important.

Discussion

This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of the agronomically important multi-silique trait in rapeseed on the transcriptome level and screens out some environment-responding candidate genes.

Conservation and Divergence in Duplicated Fiber Coexpression Networks Accompanying Domestication of the Polyploid Gossypium hirsutum L

Gossypium hirsutum L. (Upland cotton) has an evolutionary history involving inter-genomic hybridization, polyploidization, and subsequent domestication. We analyzed the developmental dynamics of the cotton fiber transcriptome accompanying domestication using gene coexpression networks for both joint and homoeologous networks. Remarkably, most genes exhibited expression for at least one homoeolog, confirming previous reports of widespread gene usage in cotton fibers. Most coexpression modules comprising the joint network are preserved in each subgenomic network and are enriched for similar biological processes, showing a general preservation of network modular structure for the two co-resident genomes in the polyploid. Interestingly, only one fifth of homoeologs co-occur in the same module when separated, despite similar modular structures between the joint and homoeologous networks. These results suggest that the genome-wide divergence between homoeologous genes is sufficient to separate their co-expression profiles at the intermodular level, despite conservation of intramodular relationships within each subgenome. Most modules exhibit D-homoeolog expression bias, although specific modules do exhibit A-homoeolog bias. Comparisons between wild and domesticated coexpression networks revealed a much tighter and denser network structure in domesticated fiber, as evidenced by its fewer modules, 13-fold increase in the number of development-related module member genes, and the poor preservation of the wild network topology. These results demonstrate the amazing complexity that underlies the domestication of cotton fiber.

Understanding the role of phytohormones in cotton fiber development through omic approaches; recent advances and future directions

Cotton is among the most important fiber crops for the textile-based industry, thanks to its cellulose-rich mature fibers. The fiber initiation and elongation are one of the best models for deciphering mechanisms of single-cell differentiation and growth, that also target of fiber development programs. During the last couple of decades, high yielding omics approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics), have helped in the identification of several genes and gene products involved in fiber development along with functional relationship to phytohormones. For example, MYB transcription factor family and Sus gene family have been evidenced by controlling cotton fiber initiation. Most importantly, the biosynthesis, responses, and transporting of phytohormones is documented to participate in the initiation of cotton fibers. Herein, in this review, the reliable genetic evidence by manipulating the above genes in cotton have been summarized to describe the relationships among key phytohormones, transcription factors, proteins, and downstream fiber growth-related genes such as Sus. The effect of other important factors such as ROS, fatty acid metabolism, and actin (globular multi-functional proteins) over fiber development has also been discussed. The challenges and deficiencies in the research of cotton fiber development have been mentioned along with a future perspective to discover new crucial genes using multiple omics analysis.

The miR319-Targeted GhTCP4 Promotes the Transition from Cell Elongation to Wall Thickening in Cotton Fiber

Plant cell growth involves a complex interplay among cell-wall expansion, biosynthesis, and, in specific tissues, secondary cell wall (SCW) deposition, yet the coordination of these processes remains elusive. Cotton fiber cells are developmentally synchronous, highly elongated, and contain nearly pure cellulose when mature. Here, we report that the transcription factor GhTCP4 plays an important role in balancing cotton fiber cell elongation and wall synthesis. During fiber development the expression of miR319 declines while GhTCP4 transcript levels increase, with high levels of the latter promoting SCW deposition. GhTCP4 interacts with a homeobox-containing factor, GhHOX3, and repressing its transcriptional activity. GhTCP4 and GhHOX3 function antagonistically to regulate cell elongation, thereby establishing temporal control of fiber cell transition to the SCW stage. We found that overexpression of GhTCP4A upregulated and accelerated activation of the SCW biosynthetic pathway in fiber cells, as revealed by transcriptome and promoter activity analyses, resulting in shorter fibers with varied lengths and thicker walls. In contrast, GhTCP4 downregulation led to slightly longer fibers and thinner cell walls. The GhHOX3-GhTCP4 complex may represent a general mechanism of cellular development in plants since both are conserved factors in many species, thus providing us a potential molecular tool for the design of fiber traits.

Constitutive expression of Asparaginase in Gossypium hirsutum triggers insecticidal activity against Bemisia tabaci

Whitefly infestation of cotton crop imparts enormous damage to cotton yield by severely affecting plant health, vigour and transmitting Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV). Genetic modification of cotton helps to overcome both the direct whitefly infestation as well as CLCuV based cotton yield losses. We have constitutively overexpressed asparaginase (ZmASN) gene in Gossypium hirsutum to overcome the cotton yield losses imparted by whitefly infestation. We achieved 2.54% transformation efficiency in CIM-482 by Agrobacterium-mediated shoot apex transformation method. The relative qRT-PCR revealed 40-fold higher transcripts of asparaginase in transgenic cotton line vs. non-transgenic cotton lines. Metabolic analysis showed higher contents of aspartic acid and glutamic acid in seeds and phloem sap of the transgenic cotton lines. Phenotypically, the transgenic cotton lines showed vigorous growth and height, greater number of bolls, and yield. Among six representative transgenic cotton lines, line 14 had higher photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, smooth fiber surface, increased fiber convolutions (SEM analysis) and 95% whitefly mortality as compared to non-transgenic cotton line. The gene integration analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization showed single copy gene integration at chromosome number 1. Collectively, asparaginase gene demonstrated potential to control whitefly infestation, post-infestation damages and improve cotton plant health and yield: a pre-requisite for farmer's community.

Combined GWAS and eQTL analysis uncovers a genetic regulatory network orchestrating the initiation of secondary cell wall development in cotton

The cotton fibre serves as a valuable experimental system to study cell wall synthesis in plants, but our understanding of the genetic regulation of this process during fibre development remains limited. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identified 28 genetic loci associated with fibre quality in allotetraploid cotton. To investigate the regulatory roles of these loci, we sequenced fibre transcriptomes of 251 cotton accessions and identified 15 330 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). Analysis of local eQTL and GWAS data prioritised 13 likely causal genes for differential fibre quality in a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS). Characterisation of distal eQTL revealed unequal genetic regulation patterns between two subgenomes, highlighted by an eQTL hotspot (Hot216) that established a genome-wide genetic network regulating the expression of 962 genes. The primary regulatory role of Hot216, and specifically the gene encoding a KIP-related protein, was found to be the transcriptional regulation of genes responsible for cell wall synthesis, which contributes to fibre length by modulating the developmental transition from rapid cell elongation to secondary cell wall synthesis. This study uncovered the genetic regulation of fibre-cell development and revealed the molecular basis of the temporal modulation of secondary cell wall synthesis during plant cell elongation.

Transcriptome analyses provide insights into the homeostatic regulation of axillary buds in upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.)

BACKGROUND

The axillary bud is an important index of cotton plant-type traits, and the molecular mechanism of axillary bud development in upland cotton has not yet been reported. We obtained a mutant (designated mZ571) with a high-budding phenotype in axillary bud development from the low-budding phenotype variety G. hirsutum Z571 (CCRI 9A02), which provided ideal materials for the study of complex regulatory networks of axillary bud development. In this study, RNA sequencing was carried out to detect gene expression levels during three stages of axillary buds in Z571 (LB, low budding) and mZ571 mutant (HB, high budding).

RESULTS

A total of 7162 DEGs were identified in the three groups (HB-E vs. LB-E, HB-G1 vs. LB-G1, HB-G2 vs. LB-G2), including 4014 downregulated and 3184 upregulated DEGs. Additionally, 221 DEGs were commonly identified in all three groups, accounting for approximately 3.09% of the total DEGs. These DEGs were identified, annotated and classified. A significant number of DEGs were related to hormone metabolism, hormone signal transduction, and starch and sucrose metabolism. In addition, 45, 22 and 9 DEGs involved in hormone metabolic pathways and 67, 22 and 19 DEGs involved in hormone signal transduction pathwayspathway were identified in HB-E vs. LB-E, HB-G1 vs. LB-G1, and HB-G2 vs. LB-G2, respectively, suggesting that endogenous hormones are the primary factors influencing cotton axillary bud growth. Hormone and soluble sugar content measurements revealed that mZ571 exhibited higher concentrations of zeatin, gibberellins and soluble sugar in all three stages, which confirmed that these hormone metabolism-, hormone signal transduction- and starch metabolism-related genes showed interaction effects contributing to the divergence of axillary bud growth between mZ571 and Z571.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirmed the importance of endogenous hormones and sugars in the development of axillary buds, and we found that mZ571 plants, with a high-budding phenotype of axillary buds, exhibited higher endogenous hormone and sugar concentrations. Overall, we present a model for the emergence and development of cotton axillary buds that provides insights into the complexity and dynamic nature of the regulatory network during axillary bud emergence and development.

Genomic diversifications of five Gossypium allopolyploid species and their impact on cotton improvement

Polyploidy is an evolutionary innovation for many animals and all flowering plants, but its impact on selection and domestication remains elusive. Here we analyze genome evolution and diversification for all five allopolyploid cotton species, including economically important Upland and Pima cottons. Although these polyploid genomes are conserved in gene content and synteny, they have diversified by subgenomic transposon exchanges that equilibrate genome size, evolutionary rate heterogeneities and positive selection between homoeologs within and among lineages. These differential evolutionary trajectories are accompanied by gene-family diversification and homoeolog expression divergence among polyploid lineages. Selection and domestication drive parallel gene expression similarities in fibers of two cultivated cottons, involving coexpression networks and N⁶-methyladenosine RNA modifications. Furthermore, polyploidy induces recombination suppression, which correlates with altered epigenetic landscapes and can be overcome by wild introgression. These genomic insights will empower efforts to manipulate genetic recombination and modify epigenetic landscapes and target genes for crop improvement.

Sequencing and genomic diversification of five allopolyploid cotton species provide insights into polyploid genome evolution and epigenetic landscapes for cotton improvement.

Genetic Analysis of the Transition from Wild to Domesticated Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The evolution and domestication of cotton is of great interest from both economic and evolutionary standpoints. Although many genetic and genomic resources have been generated for cotton, the genetic underpinnings of the transition from wild to domesticated cotton remain poorly known. Here we generated an intraspecific QTL mapping population specifically targeting domesticated cotton phenotypes. We used 466 F₂ individuals derived from an intraspecific cross between the wild Gossypium hirsutum var. yucatanense (TX2094) and the elite cultivar G. hirsutum cv. Acala Maxxa, in two environments, to identify 120 QTL associated with phenotypic changes under domestication. While the number of QTL recovered in each subpopulation was similar, only 22 QTL were considered coincident (i.e., shared) between the two locations, eight of which shared peak markers. Although approximately half of QTL were located in the A-subgenome, many key fiber QTL were detected in the D-subgenome, which was derived from a species with unspinnable fiber. We found that many QTL are environment-specific, with few shared between the two environments, indicating that QTL associated with G. hirsutum domestication are genomically clustered but environmentally labile. Possible candidate genes were recovered and are discussed in the context of the phenotype. We conclude that the evolutionary forces that shape intraspecific divergence and domestication in cotton are complex, and that phenotypic transformations likely involved multiple interacting and environmentally responsive factors.

A cotton NAC domain transcription factor, GhFSN5, negatively regulates secondary cell wall biosynthesis and anther development in transgenic Arabidopsis

NAC domain transcription factors (TFs) are plant-specific transcriptional regulators, some of which play crucial roles in secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis in plants. Cotton is one of the most important natural fiber producing crops, whose mature fiber SCW contains more than 90% cellulose with very small amounts of xylan and lignin, but little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying fiber SCW formation. We previously identified seven fiber preferentially expressed NAC members, GhFSN1-7. One, GhFSN1, was demonstrated to positively regulate fiber SCW thickening, but the functions of other GhFSN members remain unknown. In this study, roles of GhFSN5 were dissected. qRT-PCR analysis showed that GhFSN5 was predominantly transcribed during the fiber SCW thickening stage. In addition, a large number of fiber SCW biosynthetic genes and SCW-related TFs were co-expressed with GhFSN5. Heterologous expression of GhFSN5 in Arabidopsis resulted in plants with smaller siliques and severe sterility. Anther dehiscence in transgenic lines was not substantially affected, but most pollen was collapsed and nonviable. Furthermore, cellulose and lignin contents in inflorescence stems as well as roots were reduced in transgenic lines, compared with the wild type. Moreover, a set of SCW biosynthetic genes for cellulose, xylan and lignin and several transcription factors involved in regulation of SCW formation were down-regulated in transgenic plants. Our findings indicate that GhFSN5 acts as a negative regulator of SCW formation and anther development and expands our understanding of transcriptional regulation of SCW biosynthesis.

Proteomic profiling of cotton fiber developmental transition from cell elongation to secondary wall deposition

Cotton fiber developmental transition from elongation to secondary cell wall biosynthesis is a critical growth shifting phase that affects fiber final length, strength, and other properties. Morphological dynamic analysis indicated an asynchronous fiber developmental pattern between two most important commercial cotton species, Gossypium hirsutum (Gh) and G. barbadense (Gb). Using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation techniques, we examined the temporal changes of protein expression at three representative development periods (15-19, 19-23, and 23-27 dpa) in both species. Strikingly, a large proportion of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified at 19-23 dpa in Gh and at 23-27 dpa in Gb, corresponding to their fiber developmental transition timing. To better understand fiber transitional development, we comparatively analyzed those DEPs in 19-23 dpa of Gh vs. in 23-27 dpa of Gb, and noted that these cotton species indeed share fundamentally similar fiber developmental features under the biological processes. We also showed that there are limited overlaps in both specific upregulated and downregulated proteins between the two species, suggesting species-specific protein regulations in the development process. Proteomic profiling results revealed dynamic changes of several key proteins and biological processes that are potentially correlated with fiber developmental transition. During the transition, upregulated proteins are mainly involved in carbohydrate/energy metabolism, oxidation-reduction, cytoskeleton, protein turnover, Ca2+ signaling, etc., whereas important downregulated proteins are mostly involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid secondary metabolism pathways. The gene expressions of several changed proteins in this key stage were also examined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Overall, the present study provides accurate pictures of the regulatory networks of functional proteins during the fiber developmental transition, therefore highlighting candidate genes/proteins and related pathways for the cotton fiber improvement.

A Molecular Blueprint of Lignin Repression

Although lignin is essential to ensure the correct growth and development of land plants, it may be an obstacle to the production of lignocellulosics-based biofuels, and reduces the nutritional quality of crops used for human consumption or livestock feed. The need to tailor the lignocellulosic biomass for more efficient biofuel production or for improved plant digestibility has fostered considerable advances in our understanding of the lignin biosynthetic pathway and its regulation. Most of the described regulators are transcriptional activators of lignin biosynthesis, but considerably less attention has been devoted to the repressors of this pathway. We provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular factors that negatively impact on the lignification process at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Extensin arabinoside chain length is modulated in elongating cotton fibre

Cotton fibre provides a unicellular model system for studying cell expansion and secondary cell wall deposition. Mature cotton fibres are mainly composed of cellulose while the walls of developing fibre cells contain a variety of polysaccharides and proteoglycans required for cell expansion. This includes hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) comprising the subgroup, extensins. In this study, extensin occurrence in cotton fibres was assessed using carbohydrate immunomicroarrays, mass spectrometry and monosaccharide profiling. Extensin amounts in three species appeared to correlate with fibre quality. Fibre cell expression profiling of the four cotton cultivars, combined with extensin arabinoside chain length measurements during fibre development, demonstrated that arabinoside side-chain length is modulated during development. Implications and mechanisms of extensin side-chain length dynamics during development are discussed.

A Comparative Genome-Wide Analysis of the R2R3-MYB Gene Family Among Four Gossypium Species and Their Sequence Variation and Association With Fiber Quality Traits in an Interspecific G. hirsutum × G. barbadense Population

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the most important natural fiber crop in the world. The R2R3-MYB gene family is a large gene family involved in many plant functions including cotton fiber development. Although previous studies have reported its phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and expression patterns in tetraploid G. hirsutum and diploid G. raimondii, little is known about the sequence variation of the members between G. hirsutum and G. barbadense and their involvement in the natural quantitative variation in fiber quality and yield. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide comparative analysis was performed among the four Gossypium species using whole genome sequences, i.e., tetraploid G. hirsutum (AD1) and G. barbadense (AD2) as well as their likely ancestral diploid extants G. raimondii (D5) and G. arboreum (A2), leading to the identification of 406, 393, 216, and 213 R2R3-MYB genes, respectively. To elucidate whether the R2R3-MYB genes are genetically associated with fiber quality traits, 86 R2R3-MYB genes were co-localized with quantitative trait loci (QTL) hotspots for fiber quality and yield, including 42 genes localized within the fiber length QTL hotspots, in interspecific G. hirsutum × G. barbadense populations. There were 20 interspecific nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites between the two tetraploid cultivated species, of which 16 developed from 11 R2R3-MYB genes were significantly correlated with fiber quality and yield in a backcross inbred population (BIL) of G. hirsutum × G. barbadense in at least one of the four field tests. Taken together, these results indicate that the sequence variation in these 11 R2R3-MYB genes is associated with the natural variation (i.e., QTL) in fiber quality and yield. Moreover, the functional SNPs of five R2R3-MYB allele pairs from the AD1 and AD2 genomes were significantly correlated with the gene expression related to fiber quality in fiber development. The results will be useful in further elucidating the role of the R2R3-MYB genes during fiber development.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Metacaspase Gene Family in Gossypium Species

Metacaspases (MCs) are cysteine proteases that are important for programmed cell death (PCD) in plants. In this study, we identified 89 MC genes in the genomes of four Gossypium species (Gossypium raimondii, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum, and Gossypium arboreum), and classified them as type-I or type-II genes. All of the type-I and type-II MC genes contain a sequence encoding the peptidase C14 domain. During developmentally regulated PCD, type-II MC genes may play an important role related to fiber elongation, while type-I genes may affect the thickening of the secondary wall. Additionally, 13 genes were observed to be differentially expressed between two cotton lines with differing fiber strengths, and four genes (GhMC02, GhMC04, GhMC07, and GhMC08) were predominantly expressed in cotton fibers at 5–30 days post-anthesis (DPA). During environmentally induced PCD, the expression levels of four genes were affected in the root, stem, and leaf tissues within 6 h of an abiotic stress treatment. In general, the MC gene family affects the development of cotton fibers, including fiber elongation and fiber thickening while four prominent fiber- expressed genes were identified. The effects of the abiotic stress and hormone treatments imply that the cotton MC gene family may be important for fiber development. The data presented herein may form the foundation for future investigations of the MC gene family in Gossypium species.

Identification of TPX2 Gene Family in Upland Cotton and Its Functional Analysis in Cotton Fiber Development

Microtubules (MTs) are of importance to fiber development. The Xklp2 (TPX2) proteins as a class of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) play a key role in plant growth and development by regulating the dynamic changes of microtubules (MTs). However, the mechanism underlying this is unknown. The interactions between TPX2 proteins and tubulin protein, which are the main structural components, have not been studied in fiber development of upland cotton. Therefore, a genome-wide analysis of the TPX2 family was firstly performed in Gossypiumhirsutum L. This study identified 41 GhTPX2 sequences in the assembled G. hirsutum genome by a series of bioinformatic methods. Generally, this gene family is phylogenetically grouped into six subfamilies, and 41 G. hirsutum TPX2 genes (GhTPX2s) are distributed across 21 chromosomes. A heatmap of the TPX2 gene family showed that homologous GhTPX2 genes, GhWDLA2/7 and GhWDLA4/9, have large differences in expression levels between two upland cotton recombinant inbred lines (69307 and 69362) that are different in fiber quality at 15 and 20 days post anthesis. The relative data indicate that these four genes are down-regulated under oryzalin, which causes microtubule depolymerization, as determined via qRT-PCR. A subcellular localization experiment suggested that GhWDLA2 and GhWDLA7 are localized to the microtubule cytoskeleton, and GhWDLA4 and GhWDLA9 are only localized to the nucleus. However, only GhWDLA7 between GhWDLA2 and GhWDLA7 interacted with GhTUA2 in the yeast two-hybrid assay. These results lay the foundation for further function study of the TPX2 gene family.

Effect of Imidacloprid Uptake from Contaminated Soils on Vegetable Growth

In the present study, the effect of imidacloprid uptake from contaminated soils on the growth of leaf vegetable Shanghaiqing was investigated. The result showed that during 35-day exposure, the concentration of imidacloprid (IMI) was in the order of vegetable shoots > vegetable roots > soil, indicating that IMI was more readily concentrated in vegetable shoots than in roots. Moreover, the biomass of IMI-treated vegetable shoots was comparable to that of the controls with early exposure, but was higher than that of the controls after 7-day exposure, showing that the test concentration of IMI could stimulate vegetable growth. The plant metabolic analysis of vegetable shoots using LC-QTOF/MS revealed that IMI may cause oxidative stress to the plant shoots with early exposure; however, the stressful situation of IMI seems to be relieved with the increase of some substances (such as spermidine and phenylalanine) with late exposure. Moreover, the upregulation of N-rich amino acids (glutamine, aspartate, and arginine) suggested that the process of fixing inorganic nitrogen in the plant should be enhanced, possibly contributing to enhanced growth rates. Additionally, four IMI's metabolites were identified by using MS-FINDER software, and the distribution of three metabolites in vegetable tissues was compared.

Identification of Histone H3 (HH3) Genes in Gossypium hirsutum Revealed Diverse Expression During Ovule Development and Stress Responses

Histone acts as the core for nucleosomes and is a key protein component of chromatin. Among different histone variants, histone H3 (HH3) variants have been reported to play vital roles in plant development. However, biological information and evolutionary relationships of HH3 genes in cotton remain to be elucidated. The current study identified 34 HH3 genes in Gossypium hirsutum. Phylogenetic analysis classified HH3 genes of 19 plant species into eight distinct clades. Sequence logos analysis among Arabidopsis, rice, and G. hirsutum amino acid residues showed higher conservation in amino acids. Using collinearity analysis, we identified 81 orthologous/paralogous gene pairs among the four genomes (A, D, At, and Dt) of cotton. Further, orthologous/paralogous and the Ka/Ks ratio demonstrated that cotton HH3 genes experienced strong purifying selection pressure with restricted functional divergence resulting from segmental and whole genome duplication. Expression pattern analysis indicated that GhHH3 genes were preferentially expressed in cotton ovule tissues. Additionally, GhHH3 gene expression can be regulated by abiotic stresses (cold, heat, sodium chloride (NaCl), and polyethylene glycol (PEG)) and phytohormonal (brassinolide (BL), gibberellic acid (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)) treatments, suggesting that GhHH3 genes might play roles in abiotic and hormone stress resistance. Taken together, this work provides important information to decipher complete molecular and physiological functions of HH3 genes in cotton.

Metabolism of polysaccharides in dynamic middle lamellae during cotton fibre development

Evidence is presented that cotton fibre adhesion and middle lamella formation are preceded by cutin dilution and accompanied by rhamnogalacturonan-I metabolism. Cotton fibres are single cell structures that early in development adhere to one another via the cotton fibre middle lamella (CFML) to form a tissue-like structure. The CFML is disassembled around the time of initial secondary wall deposition, leading to fibre detachment. Observations of CFML in the light microscope have suggested that the development of the middle lamella is accompanied by substantial cell-wall metabolism, but it has remained an open question as to which processes mediate adherence and which lead to detachment. The mechanism of adherence and detachment were investigated here using glyco-microarrays probed with monoclonal antibodies, transcript profiling, and observations of fibre auto-digestion. The results suggest that adherence is brought about by cutin dilution, while the presence of relevant enzyme activities and the dynamics of rhamnogalacturonan-I side-chain accumulation and disappearance suggest that both attachment and detachment are accompanied by rhamnogalacturonan-I metabolism.

Co-Expression Network Analysis and Hub Gene Selection for High-Quality Fiber in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Using RNA Sequencing Analysis

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is grown for its elite fiber. Understanding differential gene expression patterns during fiber development will help to identify genes associated with fiber quality. In this study, we used two recombinant inbred lines (RILs) differing in fiber quality derived from an intra-hirsutum population to explore expression profiling differences and identify genes associated with high-quality fiber or specific fiber-development stages using RNA sequencing. Overall, 72/27, 1137/1584, 437/393, 1019/184, and 2555/1479 differentially expressed genes were up-/down-regulated in an elite fiber line (L1) relative to a poor-quality fiber line (L2) at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days post-anthesis, respectively. Three-hundred sixty-three differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two lines were colocalized in fiber strength (FS) quantitative trait loci (QTL). Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) analysis discriminated seven expression profiles; gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation were performed to identify difference in function between genes unique to L1 and L2. Co-expression network analysis detected five modules highly associated with specific fiber-development stages, especially for high-quality fiber tissues. The hub genes in each module were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Hub genes encoding actin 1, Rho GTPase-activating protein with PAK-box, TPX2 protein, bHLH transcription factor, and leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase were identified. Correlation networks revealed considerable interaction among the hub genes, transcription factors, and other genes.

Crop metabolomics: from diagnostics to assisted breeding

BACKGROUND

Until recently, plant metabolomics have provided a deep understanding on the metabolic regulation in individual plants as experimental units. The application of these techniques to agricultural systems subjected to more complex interactions is a step towards the implementation of translational metabolomics in crop breeding.

AIM OF REVIEW

We present here a review paper discussing advances in the knowledge reached in the last years derived from the application of metabolomic techniques that evolved from biomarker discovery to improve crop yield and quality.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Translational metabolomics applied to crop breeding programs.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of the evolution and expression patterns of the GATA transcription factors in three species of Gossypium genus

GATA transcription factors (TFs), which bind to DNA in regulatory regions, are involved in cell differentiation and possess a type-IV zinc finger and a DNA-binding domain. GATA genes have been characterized in plant species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Glycine max, and their functions have been elucidated in A. thaliana. Although many Gossypium quantitative trait loci for fiber quality harbor GATA TFs, GATA genes have not yet been characterized in cotton. In this study, we identified 179 GATA genes from the genomes of three Gossypium species. We analyzed the phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, expression pattern, and predicted promoters of all 179 Gossypium GATA genes (46 in G. raimondii, 46 in G. arboreum, and 87 in G. hirsutum). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the 179 GATA genes into four subfamilies. Domain analysis revealed that GATA domains in subfamilies I, II, and III were located near the C-terminal, whereas those in subfamily IV were adjacent to the N-terminal. RNA-seq and (Real-time PCR) qRT-PCR revealed that 39.1% (34/87) of GATA genes were expressed in growing plant tissues in G. hirsutum, but only 12.6% (11/87) were expressed during fiber development. In addition, 45.7% (21/46) and 26.1% (12/46) of GATA genes were expressed in G. arboreum and G. raimondii, respectively. Our results may be useful for elucidating the evolution, expression patterns, and functional divergence of GATA genes in Gossypium.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of the evolution and expression patterns of the cellulose synthase gene superfamily in Gossypium species

The cellulose synthase gene superfamily, which includes the cellulose synthase (Ces) and cellulose synthase-like (Csl) families, is involved in the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose. This superfamily is critical for cotton fiber development in Gossypium species. Applying a series of bioinformatic methods, we identified 228 Ces/Csl genes from four Gossypium species (G. hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. arboreum, and G. raimondii). These genes were then grouped into 11 subfamilies based on phylogenetic relationships. A subsequent analysis of gene evolution revealed sites in CSLG and CSLJ genes that were under long-term positive selection pressure, with a posterior probability >0.95. Moreover, the d_N:d_S value for the CSLJ clade was 1.305, suggesting this subfamily was under positive selection pressure. Our data indicated that the d_N:d_S value ranged from 0.0084 to 0.9693 among the homologous Ces/Csl genes, implying they were under purifying selection pressure. Our transcriptome and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that CesA genes were more highly expressed in tetraploids than in diploids. However, the Csl expression levels exhibited the opposite trend. Furthermore, changes to promoter sequences may have influenced the expression of homologous Ces/Csl genes. Our findings may provide novel insights into the evolutionary relationships and expression patterns of the Ces/Csl genes in Gossypium species.

Genetic diversity, linkage disequilibrium, and association mapping analyses of Gossypium barbadense L. germplasm

Limited polymorphism and narrow genetic base, due to genetic bottleneck through historic domestication, highlight a need for comprehensive characterization and utilization of existing genetic diversity in cotton germplasm collections. In this study, 288 worldwide Gossypium barbadense L. cotton germplasm accessions were evaluated in two diverse environments (Uzbekistan and USA). These accessions were assessed for genetic diversity, population structure, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and LD-based association mapping (AM) of fiber quality traits using 108 genome-wide simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Analyses revealed structured population characteristics and a high level of intra-variability (67.2%) and moderate interpopulation differentiation (32.8%). Eight percent and 4.3% of markers revealed LD in the genome of the G. barbadense at critical values of r2 ≥ 0.1 and r2 ≥ 0.2, respectively. The LD decay was on average 24.8 cM at the threshold of r2 ≥ 0.05. LD retained on average distance of 3.36 cM at the threshold of r2 ≥ 0.1. Based on the phenotypic evaluations in the two diverse environments, 100 marker loci revealed a strong association with major fiber quality traits using mixed linear model (MLM) based association mapping approach. Fourteen marker loci were found to be consistent with previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and 86 were found to be new unreported marker loci. Our results provide insights into the breeding history and genetic relationship of G. barbadense germplasm and should be helpful for the improvement of cotton cultivars using molecular breeding and omics-based technologies.