Research and Development of New High-quality Short-season Cotton Varieties and the Industrial Application of High Efficiency Technologies in Shandong Province——Based on the Innovation of Building a Green and Efficient Farming System

Through the analysis of the impact of changes in the cotton planting industry on cotton production structure and benefit in Shandong under the national cotton production pattern in past ten years,based on the guarantee of food security and the overall ecological regional layout of Shandong s agricultural characteristic and advantageous industries,we proposed that through the development of high-quality short-season cotton and the industrial application of high-efficiency technologies,a green and high-efficiency farming system should be established to comprehensively reduce cotton planting costs,improve comparative benefits,and realize green and efficient optimization technologies that unify the stable production of cotton and high-quality cotton supply and the industrial path supported by the new industrial model.It is aimed to speed up the upgrading and transformation of the existing traditional cotton cropping system,reconstruct a ternary structure of grains,economic crops and fodder in the ecological suitable cotton areas and sub-suitable cotton areas in Shandong,and maintain a series of new green and ecological cotton rotation industrial models including the“double security”of the grain and cotton industries,the ecological“double superiority”of "cotton and fodder",and the high-efficiency"double increase"of cotton and garlic,providing a certain foundation for the research on technological integration innovation and industrial structure optimization of the green,efficient and high-quality development and transformation of the cotton industry in Shandong during the"14 th Five-Year Plan"period.

One-time fertilization at first flowering improves lint yield and dry matter partitioning in late planted short-season cotton

Cotton producers have substantially reduced their inputs(labor,nutrients,and management)mainly by adopting a shortseason cropping management that is characterized by late sowing,high density,and reduced fertilization with one-time application at the first bloom stage without lint yield reduction.However,it has been hypothesized that one-time fertilization at an earlier growth stage could be a more effective and economic management practice.A two-year field experiment was conducted by applying five fertilizer one-time fertilization at 0(FT1),5(FT2),10(FT3),15(FT4),and 20(FT5)days after the first flower appeared in the field and one three-split fertilizer application taken as the conventional control(FT6),making six treatments altogether.Cotton growth period,biomass accumulation,yield,and its formation were quantified.The results showed that the one-time fertilization did not affect the cotton growth progress as compared to FT6,however,the total crop cycles for FT3–FT5 were 3 days shorter.FT1 produced the highest cotton lint yield(1396 kg ha–1),which was similar to the FT6 but higher than the other treatments,and could be attributed to more bolls per unit area and higher lint percentage.Cotton yield was positively correlated with cotton plant biomass accumulated.FT1 had both the highest average(VT)(193.7 kg ha–1 d–1)and the highest maximum(VM)(220.9 kg ha–1 d–1)rates during the fast biomass accumulation period.These results suggest that one-time fertilizer application at the first flower stage might be an adjustment that is more effective than at first bloom,and allowed for easier decision making for application date due to non counting of plants with flowers is needed.

Growth,leaf anatomy,and photosynthesis of cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)seedlings in response to four light-emitting diodes and high pressure sodium lamp

Background Light is a critical factor in plant growth and development,particularly in controlled environments.Light-emitting diodes(LEDs)have become a reliable alternative to conventional high pressure sodium(HSP)lamps because they are more efficient and versatile in light sources.In contrast to well-known specialized LED light spectra for vegetables,the appropriate LED lights for crops such as cotton remain unknown.Results In this growth chamber study,we selected and compared four LED lights with varying percentages(26.44%–68.68%)of red light(R,600–700 nm),combined with other lights,for their effects on growth,leaf anatomy,and photosynthesis of cotton seedlings,using HSP lamp as a control.The total photosynthetic photon flux density(PPFD)was(215±2)μmol·m-2·s-1 for all LEDs and HSP lamp.The results showed significant differences in all tested parameters among lights,and the percentage of far red(FR,701–780 nm)within the range of 3.03%–11.86%was positively correlated with plant growth(characterized by leaf number and area,plant height,stem diameter,and total biomass),palisade layer thickness,photosynthesis rate(Pn),and stomatal conductance(Gs).The ratio of R/FR(4.445–11.497)negatively influenced the growth of cotton seedlings,and blue light(B)suppressed stem elongation but increased palisade cell length,chlorophyll content,and Pn.Conclusion The LED 2 was superior to other LED lights and HSP lamp.It had the highest ratio of FR within the total PPFD(11.86%)and the lowest ratio of R/FR(4.445).LED 2 may therefore be used to replace HPS lamp under controlled environments for the study of cotton at the seedling stage.

Identification of SSR markers linked to the abscission of cotton boll traits and mining germplasm in Cotton

Background Cotton is an economically important crop.It is crucial to find an effective method to improve cotton yield,and one approach is to decrease the abscission of cotton bolls and buds.However,the lack of knowledge of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cotton boll abscission traits has hindered genetic improvements.Results Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between boll abscission rates 1(AR1)and boll abscission rates 2(AR2).A genome-wide association study was conducted on 145 loci that exhibited high polymorphism and were uniformly distributed across 26 chromosomes(pair).The study revealed 18,46,and 62 markers that were significantly associated with boll abscission,fiber quality,and yield traits(P<0.05),explaining 1.75%–7.13%,1.16%–9.58%,and 1.40%–5.44%of the phenotypic variation,respectively.Notably,the marker MON_SHIN-1584b was associated with the cotton boll abscission trait,whereas MON_CGR5732a was associated with cotton boll abscission and fiber quality traits.Thirteen of the marker loci identified in this study had been previously reported.Based on phenotypic effects,six typical cultivars with elite alleles related to cotton boll abscission,fiber quality,and yield traits were identified.These cultivars hold great promise for widespread utilization in breeding programs.Conclusions These results lay the foundation for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of cotton boll abscission and provide data for the future improvement of cotton breeding.

Three decades and beyond:Breeding,biotech breakthroughs and future of China's GM insect-resistant cotton

Cotton(Gossypium spp.)is a pivotal crop in the global textile industry,providing essential natural fibers.Additionally,cottonseed offers significant value as a source of oil and as feed for livestock(Huang et al.2021;Wen et al.2023).The sector,dependent on cotton,features a comprehensive value chain extending from the processing of fibers to the production of finished textiles,and it employs tens of millions of individuals(Dorward et al.1970).

EPSPS regulates cell elongation by disrupting the balance of lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis in cotton

EPSPS is a key gene in the shikimic acid synthesis pathway that has been widely used in breeding crops with herbicide resistance.However,its role in regulating cell elongation is poorly understood.Through the overexpression of EPSPS genes,we generated lines resistant to glyphosate that exhibit an unexpected dwarf phenotype.A representative line,DHR1,exhibits a stable dwarf phenotype throughout its entire growth period.Except for plant height,the other agronomic traits of DHR1 are similar to its transgenic explants ZM24.Paraffin section observations showed that DHR1 internodes are shortened due to reduced elongation and division of the internode cells.Exogenous hormones confirmed that DHR1 is not a classical brassinolide(BR)-or gibberellin(GA)-related dwarfing mutant.Hybridization analysis and fine mapping confirmed that the EPSPS gene is the causal gene for dwarfism,and the phenotype can be inherited in different genotypes.Transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that genes associated with the phenylpropanoid synthesis pathway are enriched in DHR1 compared with ZM24.Flavonoid metabolites are enriched in DHR1,whereas lignin metabolites are reduced.The enhancement of flavonoids likely results in differential expression of auxin signal pathway genes and alters the auxin response,subsequently affecting cell elongation.This study provides a new strategy for generating dwarfs and will accelerate advancements in light simplification in the cultivation and mechanized harvesting of cotton.

GbLMI1 over-expression improves cotton aboveground vegetative growth

Leaves are the main organ for photosynthesis and organic synthesis in cotton.Leaf shape has important effects on photosynthetic efficiency and canopy formation,thereby affecting cotton yield.Previous studies have shown that LMI1(LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1)is the main gene regulating leaf shape.In this study,the LMI1 gene was inserted into the 35S promoter expression vector,and cotton plants overexpressing LMI1(OE)were obtained through genetic transformation.Statistical analysis of the biological traits of the T_(1) and T_(2) populations showed that compared to the wild type(WT),OE plants had significantly larger leaves,thicker stems and significantly greater dry weight.Furthermore,plant sections of the main vein and petiole showed that the numbers of cells in those tissues of OE plants were significantly greater.In addition,RNA-seq analysis revealed the differential expression of genes related to gibberellin synthesis and NAC gene family(genes containing the NAC domain)between the OE and WT plants,suggesting that LMI1 is involved in secondary wall formation and cell proliferation,which promotes stem thickening.Moreover,Gene Ontology(GO)analysis revealed enrichment in the terms of calcium ion binding,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis showed enrichment in the terms of fatty acid degradation,phosphatidylinositol signal transduction system,and c AMP(cyclic adenosine monophosphate)signal pathway.These results suggested that LMI1 OE plants are responsive to gibberellin hormone signals,and have altered messenger signals(c AMP,Ca^(2+))which amplify this function,to promote stronger aboveground vegetative growth.This study found the LMI1 greatly increased the vegetative growth in cotton,which is the basic requirement for higher yield.

Journal of Cotton Research Annual Awards

Hangdling Editor of the Year 2023.Journal of Cotton Research editorial office launches the award of Handling editors of the year to recognize handling editors with the most processed manuscripts in Journal of Cotton Research.Here are the Top 4 Handling editors of 2023:DONG Hezhong,Institute of Industrial Crops,Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences,China YANG Guozheng,College of Plant Science&Technology,Huazhong Agricultural University,China ZHANG Lizhen,College of Resources and Environmental Sciences,China Agricultural University,China ZHOU Zhiguo,College of Agriculture,Nanjing Agricultural University,China.

Correction:Identification of SSR markers linked to the abscission of cotton boll traits and mining germplasm in Cotton

Correction:J Cotton Res 7,20(2024)https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-024-00180-3 Following publication of the original article(Shui et al.2024),the author found 5 errors in the published article.1.One of the author’s name has been corrected from Gou Chunping to Guo Chunping.2.The reference(Zhao SQ.2016)in Table 2 has been updated to:Zhao SQ.Analysis on the major gene and multigene mixed inheritance and QTL mapping for early maturity traits in upland cotton.Chin Acad Agric Sci.2016.https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.201600501.(in Chinese with English abstract).3.In’Results’part,’Phenotype analysis of 238 cotton boll abscission among cotton accessions’paragraph,the phenotype analysis of AR1 ranging from 19.27%–63.79%,which was wrongly written as 19.27%-63.97%.4.The‘2018KRL’is modified to‘2018KEL’in Table 1.

Cotton pads-derived carbon materials/reduced graphene oxide modified with polypyrrole for electrode of supercapacitors

This study investigates the influence of electropolymerization conditions on the deposition of polypyrrole(PPy)onto cotton-derived carbon fiber(CF)modified with reduced graphene oxide(rGO)for supercapacitors applications using an experimental/theorical approach.The surface modification of CF by rGO and/or by PPy electrodeposited at 10,25 and 50 mV s^(-1) was thoroughly examined physicochemical and electrochemically.Composite electrodes comprising CF-rGo-PPy,synthesized via electropolymerization at 25 mV s^(-1),demonstrated a remarkable increase in capacitance,showcasing~742 F g^(-1) compared to 153 F g^(-1) for CF.SEM,N_(2)-surface area,XPS,and TD-DFT approach revealed that the higher capacitance observed in CF-rGo-PPy electrodes underscores the influence of morphology and charged nitrogen species on the electrochemical performance of these modified electrodes.Notably,this electrode material achieves a specific capacitance retention of~96%of their initial capacitance after 10000 cycles at 0.5 A g^(-1) measured in a two-electrodes cell configuration.This work also discusses the influence of the scan rate used for pyrrole electropolymerization on the pseudocapacitance contribution of PPy and its possible effect on the porosity of the material.These results highlight the importance of appropriate electropolymerization conditions that allow obtaining the synergistic effect between CF,rGO and PPy.

Alternate cotton-peanut intercropping:a new approach to increasing productivity and minimizing environmental impact

Recent publications have highlighted the development of an alternate cotton-peanut intercropping as a novel strat-egy to enhance agricultural productivity.In this article,we provide an overview of the progress made in the alternate cotton-peanut intercropping,specifically focusing on its yield benefits,environmental impacts,and the underlying mechanisms.In addition,we advocate for future investigations into the selection or development of appropriate crop varieties and agricultural equipment,pest management options,and the mechanisms of root-canopy interactions.This review is intended to provide a valuable reference for understanding and adopting an alternate intercropping system for sustainable cotton production.

Exogenous melatonin improves cotton yield under drought stress by enhancing root development and reducing root damage

The exogenous application of melatonin by the root drenching method is an effective way to improve crop drought resistance.However,the optimal concentration of melatonin by root drenching and the physiological mechanisms underlying melatonin-induced drought tolerance in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)roots remain elusive.This study determined the optimal concentration of melatonin by root drenching and explored the protective effects of melatonin on cotton roots.The results showed that 50μmol L-1 melatonin was optimal and significantly mitigated the inhibitory effect of drought on cotton seedling growth.Exogenous melatonin promoted root development in drought-stressed cotton plants by remarkably increasing the root length,projected area,surface area,volume,diameter,and biomass.Melatonin also mitigated the drought-weakened photosynthetic capacity of cotton and regulated the endogenous hormone contents by regulating the relative expression levels of hormone-synthesis genes under drought stress.Melatonin-treated cotton seedlings maintained optimal enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacities,and produced relatively lower levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde,thus reducing the drought stress damage to cotton roots(such as mitochondrial damage).Moreover,melatonin alleviated the yield and fiber length declines caused by drought stress.Taken together,these findings show that root drenching with exogenous melatonin increases the cotton yield by enhancing root development and reducing the root damage induced by drought stress.In summary,these results provide a foundation for the application of melatonin in the field by the root drenching method.

Strigolactones modulate cotton fiber elongation and secondary cell wall thickening

Cotton is one of the most important economic crops in the world,and it is a major source of fiber in the textile industry.Strigolactones(SLs)are a class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones involved in many processes of plant growth and development,although the functions of SL in fiber development remain largely unknown.Here,we found that the endogenous SLs were significantly higher in fibers at 20 days post-anthesis(DPA).Exogenous SLs significantly increased fiber length and cell wall thickness.Furthermore,we cloned three key SL biosynthetic genes,namely GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4,which were highly expressed in fibers,and subcellular localization analyses revealed that GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 were localized in the chloroplast.The exogenous expression of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 complemented the physiological phenotypes of d27,max3,and max4 mutations in Arabidopsis,respectively.Knockdown of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 in cotton resulted in increased numbers of axillary buds and leaves,reduced fiber length,and significantly reduced fiber thickness.These findings revealed that SLs participate in plant growth,fiber elongation,and secondary cell wall formation in cotton.These results provide new and effective genetic resources for improving cotton fiber yield and plant architecture.

Enhancing cotton resilience to challenging climates through genetic modifications

Cotton is one of the most important fiber crops that plays a vital role in the textile industry.Its production has been unstable over the years due to climate change induced biotic stresses such as insects,diseases,and weeds,as well as abiotic stresses including drought,salinity,heat,and cold.Traditional breeding methods have been used to breed climate resilient cotton,but it requires a considerable amount of time to enhance crop tolerance to insect pests and changing climatic conditions.A promising strategy for improving tolerance against these stresses is genetic engineering.This review article discusses the role of genetic engineering in cotton improvement.The essential concepts and techniques include genome editing via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9(CRISPR-Cas9),overexpression of target genes,downregulation using RNA interference(RNAi),and virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS).Notably,the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has made significant contributions to using these techniques for obtaining stable transgenic plants.

Barley chitinase genes expression revamp resistance against whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci) in transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Background Chitinase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes chitin,a major component of the exoskeleton of insects,including plant pests like whiteflies.The present study aimed to investigate the expression of chemically synthesized barley ch1 and chi2 genes in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum)through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.Fifty-five putative transgenic cotton plants were obtained,out of which fifteen plants successfully survived and were shifted to the field.Using gene-specific primers,amplification of 447 bp and 401 bp fragments confirmed the presence of the ch1 and chi2 genes in five transgenic cotton plants of the T0 generation.These five plants were further evalu-ated for their mRNA expression levels.The T0 transgenic cotton plants with the highest mRNA expression level and better yield performance in field,were selected to raise their subsequent progenies.Results The T1 cotton plants showed the highest mRNA expression levels of 3.5-fold in P10(2)for the ch1 gene and 3.7-fold in P2(1)for the chi2 gene.Fluorescent in situ hybridization(FISH)confirmed a single copy number of ch1 and chi2(hemizygous)on chromosome no.6.Furthermore,the efficacy of transgenes on whitefly was evaluated through an insect bioassay,where after 96 h of infestation,mortality rates of whitefly were calculated to be 78%–80%in transgenic cotton plants.The number of eggs on transgenic cotton plants were calculated to be 0.1%–0.12 per plant compared with the non-transgenic plants where egg number was calculated to be 0.90–1.00 per plant.Conclusion Based on these findings,it can be concluded that the chemically synthesized barley chitinase genes(ch1 and chi2)have the potential to be effective against insects with chitin exoskeletons,including whiteflies.The transgenic cotton plants expressing these genes showed increased resistance to whiteflies,resulting in reduced egg numbers and higher mortality rates.

Simultaneous determination of five plant hormones in cotton leaves using QuEChERS combined with HPLC‒MS/MS

Background Plant hormones profoundly influence cotton growth,development,and responses to various stresses.Therefore,there is a pressing need for an efficient assay to quantify these hormones in cotton.In this groundbreaking study,we have established QuEChERS-HPLC‒MS/MS method,for the simultaneous detection of multiple plant hormones in cotton leaves,allowing the analysis and quantification of five key plant hormones.Results Sample extraction and purification employed 0.1%acetic acid in methanol and C18 for optimal recovery of plant hormones.The method applied to cotton demonstrated excellent linearity across a concentration range of 0.05–1 mg・L−1,with linear regression coefficients exceeding 0.99.The limits of quantification(LOQs)were 20μg・kg−1 for GA3 and 5μg・kg−1 for the other four plant hormones.Recovery rates for the five plant hormones matrix spiked at levels of 5,10,100,and 1000μg・kg−1 were in the range of 79.07%to 98.97%,with intraday relative standard deviations(RSDs)ranging from 2.11%to 8.47%.The method was successfully employed to analyze and quantify the five analytes in cotton leaves treated with plant growth regulators.Conclusion The study demonstrates that the method is well-suited for the determination of five plant hormones in cotton.It exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity in detecting field samples,thus serving as a robust tool for indepth research into cotton physiology.

Identification of candidate genes for early-maturity traits by combining BSA-seq and QTL mapping in upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton breeding for the development of early-maturing varieties is an effective way to improve multiple cropping indexes and alleviate the conflict between grains and cotton in the cultivated fields in China.In the present study,we aimed to identify upland cotton quantitative trait loci(QTLs)and candidate genes related to early-maturity traits,including whole growth period(WGP),flowering timing(FT),node of the first fruiting branch(NFFB),height of the node of the first fruiting branch(HNFFB),and plant height(PH).An early-maturing variety,CCRI50,and a latematuring variety,Guoxinmian 11,were crossed to obtain biparental populations.These populations were used to map QTLs for the early-maturity traits for two years(2020 and 2021).With BSA-seq analysis based on the data of population 2020,the candidate regions related to early maturity were found to be located on chromosome D03.We then developed 22 polymorphic insertions or deletions(InDel)markers to further narrow down the candidate regions,resulting in the detection of five and four QTLs in the 2020 and 2021 populations,respectively.According to the results of QTL mapping,two candidate regions(InDel_G286-InDel_G144 and InDel_G24-InDel_G43)were detected.In these regions,three genes(GH_D03G0451,GH_D03G0649,and GH_D03G1180)have nonsynonymous mutations in their exons and one gene(GH_D03G0450)has SNP variations in the upstream sequence between CCRI50 and Guoxinmian 11.These four genes also showed dominant expression in the floral organs.The expression levels of GH_D03G0451,GH_D03G0649 and GH_D03G1180 were significantly higher in CCRI50 than in Guoxinmian 11 during the bud differentiation stages,while GH_D03G0450 showed the opposite trend.Further functional verification of GH_D03G0451 indicated that the GH_D03G0451-silenced plants showed a delay in the flowering time.The results suggest that these are the candidate genes for cotton early maturity,and they may be used for breeding early-maturity cotton varieties.

Pectin methylesterase inhibitors GhPMEI53 and AtPMEI19 improve seed germination by modulating cell wall plasticity in cotton and Arabidopsis

The germination process of seeds is influenced by the interplay between two opposing factors,pectin methylesterase(PME)and pectin methylesterase inhibitor(PMEI),which collectively regulate patterns of pectin methylesterification.Despite the recognized importance of pectin methylesterification in seed germination,the specific mechanisms that govern this process remain unclear.In this study,we demonstrated that the overexpression of GhPMEI53is associated with a decrease in PME activity and an increase in pectin methylesterification.This leads to seed cell wall softening,which positively regulates cotton seed germination.AtPMEI19,the homologue in Arabidopsis thaliana,plays a similar role in seed germination to GhPMEI53,indicating a conserved function and mechanism of PMEI in seed germination regulation.Further studies revealed that GhPMEI53 and AtPMEI19 directly contribute to promoting radicle protrusion and seed germination by inducing cell wall softening and reducing mechanical strength.Additionally,the pathways of abscicic acid(ABA)and gibberellin(GA)in the transgenic materials showed significant changes,suggesting that GhPMEI53/AtPMEI19-mediated pectin methylesterification serves as a regulatory signal for the related phytohormones involved in seed germination.In summary,GhPMEI53 and its homologs alter the mechanical properties of cell walls,which influence the mechanical resistance of the endosperm or testa.Moreover,they impact cellular phytohormone pathways(e.g.,ABA and GA)to regulate seed germination.These findings enhance our understanding of pectin methylesterification in cellular morphological dynamics and signaling transduction,and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the PME/PMEI gene superfamily in plants.

GhWRKY75 positively regulates GhPR6-5b via binding to a W-box TTGAC(C/T)to orchestrate cotton resistance to Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae is an important fungal pathogen affecting cotton yield and quality.Therefore,the mining of V.dahlia-resistance genes is urgently needed.Proteases and protease inhibitors play crucial roles in plant defense responses.However,the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the protease inhibitor PR6 gene family remain largely unknown.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PR6 gene family in the cotton genome.We performed genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the cotton GhPR6 gene family,which belongs to the potato protease inhibitor I family of inhibitors.Thirty-nine PR6s were identified in Gossypium arboreum,G.raimondii,G.barbadense,and G.hirsutum,and they were clustered into four groups.Based on the analysis of pathogen-induced and Ghlmm transcriptome data,Gh PR6-5b was identified as the key gene for V.dahliae resistance.Virus-induced gene silencing experiments revealed that cotton was more sensitive to V.dahliae V991after PR6-5b silencing.The present study established that GhWRKY75 plays an important role in resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton by positively regulating GhPR6-5b expression by directly binding to the W-box TTGAC(T/C).Our findings established that GhWRKY75 is a potential candidate for improving cotton resistance to V.dahliae,and provide primary information for further investigations and the development of specific strategies to bolster the defense mechanisms of cotton against V.dahliae.

Apical meristem transcriptome analysis identifies a role for the blue light receptor gene GhFKF1 in cotton architecture development

Cotton architecture is determined by the differentiation fate transition of axillary meristem(AM),and influences cotton yield and the efficiency of mechanized harvesting.We observed that the initiation of flowering primordium was earlier in early-maturing than that in late-maturing cultivars during the differentiation and development of AM.The RNA-Seq and expression level analyses showed that genes FLAVIN BINDING,KELCH REPEAT,F-BOX1(GhFKF1),and GIGANTEA(GhGI)were in response to circadian rhythms,and involved in the regulation of cotton flowering.The gene structure,predicted protein structure,and motif content analyses showed that in Arabidopsis,cotton,rapseed,and soybean,proteins GhFKF1 and GhGI were functionally conserved and share evolutionary origins.Compared to the wild type,in GhFKF1 mutants that were created by the CRISPR/Cas9 system,the initiation of branch primordium was inhibited.Conversely,the knocking out of GhGI increased the number of AM differentiating into flower primordium,and there were much more lateral branch differentiation and development.Besides,we investigated that proteins GhFKF1 and GhGI can interact with each other.These results suggest that GhFKF1 and GhGI are key regulators of cotton architecture development,and may collaborate to regulate the differentiation fate transition of AM,ultimately influencing plant architecture.We describe a strategy for using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to increase cotton adaptation and productivity by optimizing plant architecture.