Effects of planting patterns on yield, quality, and defoliation in machine-harvested cotton

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of different machine-harvested cotton-planting patterns on defoliation,yield,and fiber quality in cotton and to provide support for improving the quality of machine-harvested cotton.In the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons,the Xinluzao 45(XLZ45)and Xinluzao 62(XLZ62)cultivars,which are primarily cultivated in northern Xinjiang,were used as study materials.Conventional wide-narrow row(WNR),wide and ultra-narrow row(UNR),wide-row spacing with high density(HWR),and wide-row spacing with low density(LWR)planting patterns were used to assess the effects of planting patterns on defoliation,yield,and fiber quality.Compared with WNR,the seed cotton yields were significantly decreased by 2.06–5.48%for UNR and by 2.50–6.99%for LWR,respectively.The main cause of reduced yield was a reduction in bolls per unit area.The variation in HWR yield was–1.07–1.07%with reduced bolls per unit area and increased boll weight,thus demonstrating stable production.In terms of fiber quality indicators,the planting patterns only showed significant effects on the micronaire value,with wide-row spacing patterns showing an increase in the micronaire values.The defoliation and boll-opening results showed that the number of leaves and dried leaves in HWR was the lowest among the four planting patterns.Prior to the application of defoliating agent and before machine-harvesting,the numbers of leaves per individual plant in HWR were decreased by 14.45 and 25.00%on average,respectively,compared with WNR,while the number of leaves per unit area was decreased by 27.44 and 36.21%on average,respectively.The rates of boll-opening and defoliation in HWR were the highest.Specifically,the boll-opening rate before defoliation and machine-harvesting in HWR was 44.54 and 5.94%higher on average than in WNR,while the defoliation rate prior to machine-harvesting was 3.45%higher on average than in WNR.The numbers of ineffective defoliated leaves and leaf trash in HWR were the lowest,decreased by 33.40 and 32.43%,respectively,compared with WNR.In conclusion,the HWR planting pattern is associated with a high and stable yield,does not affect fiber quality,promotes early maturation,and can effectively decrease the amount of leaf trash in machine-picked seed cotton,and thus its use is able to improve the quality of machine-harvested cotton.

Effects of DPC on Agronomic Traits and Economic Characters of Machine-Harvested Cotton in the Yellow River Valley of China and Chemical Control Techniques

[Objective] The aim was to investigate the effects of DPC chemical controlling technique on agronomic traits, yield and quality of machine-harvested cotton in the Yellow River Valley of China, and clarify the reasonable control period and the application amount of DPC. [Method] The new machine-harvested cotton variety Hengmian HD008 was used as the test material, and 3 different DPC treatments were set. [Result] DPC significantly reduced plant height and branch length, reduced branch angle and leaf area, so the rational control can effectively shape the ideal plant type of machine-harvested cotton. DPC had significant effects on yield and yield components, and the proper amount of DPC could increase the number of bolls during hot days, the number bolls in autumn and the total number of bolls. It increased the boll weight and seed index, but decreased lint percentage decreased, and proper amount of DPC could increase the yield. DPC significantly increased the specific breaking strength of fibers, and proper control could improve the uniformity of fibers, but other indexes had no significant influence. [Conclusion] According to the requirements of machine harvest to the agronomic traits of cotton and the growth characteristics of cotton plant, chemical control could begin after floral bud emergence in cotton about every 10 d, and the spraying amount can be controlled according to the growth amount of the main stem. The daily growth amount of plant height should be controlled at 1.5-1.8 cm, and the plant height should be within 75-90 cm.

Fiber damage of machine-harvested cotton before ginning and after lint cleaning

Machine harvesting increases the foreign matter content of seed cotton. Excessive cleaning causes fiber damage and economic loss. Most trading companies in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China have indicated reluctance to use machine-harvested cotton. The first objective was to determine how the fiber quality was affected by the ginning and lint cleaning and how the fiber damage during levels of lint cleaning changed. The second objective was to determine the optimum number of lint cleaners for machine-harvested cotton based on fiber damage. Cotton samples were collected from 13 fields and processed in seven ginneries between 2013 and 2015. The results indicated that ginning and lint cleaning didn＇t have significant effect on fiber strength and significantly affected both fiber length and short fiber index. Fiber length was reduced by more than 1.00 mm from six of 13 fields after lint cleaning, then the damage rate on short fiber index from 11 of 13 fields was more than 20%. The third lint cleaning caused great fiber damage, reducing fiber length by 0.35 mm and increasing short fiber index by 0.65%. So, the lint should be cleaned by one lint cleaner in the Xinjiang, however, the stage of lint cleaning was sometimes omitted when the foreign matter content of lint was little.

利用CottonSNP63K芯片构建棉花品种的指纹图谱

【目的】利用SNP位点的单拷贝特性,结合陆地棉TM-1参考基因组序列信息,筛选基因组特异的SNP。【方法】以719份遗传背景来源广泛的陆地棉种质资源为材料,采用Illumina公司开发的Cotton SNP63K芯片,利用Genome Studio软件对芯片扫描所获得原始数据进行基因型数据质量控制,获得待测样品SNP位点的基因型数据。根据已公布的陆地棉TM-1基因组的两个版本——中国农业科学院棉花研究所版本Gossypium hirsutum(AD1)genome BGI v1.0与南京农业大学版本G.hirsutum(AD1)genome NBI v1.1为参考序列,对Cotton SNP63K芯片(63 058个SNP)各位点的侧翼序列分别进行全基因组Blast比对分析,以筛选具有单拷贝特性的特异SNP位点并用于样品指纹图谱的构建。【结果】利用Cotton SNP63K芯片对719份材料进行SNP位点基因分型,主要表现为无检出信号的SNP位点、无多态性的SNP位点、具有多态性的SNP位点,而具有多态性的SNP位点的分型结果又可分为单位点SNP(基因组特异SNP)、双位点SNP和多位点SNP。通过对两个已公布的陆地棉TM-1参考基因组序列Blast比对结果表明,中国农业科学院棉花研究所TM-1基因组版本比对获得基因组特异SNP标记为5 474个,而南京农业大学TM-1基因组版本比对获得基因组特异SNP标记仅为1 850个,两者共有的特异SNP为1 594个,进一步通过分型效果、检出率及多态性3个评价指标,筛选score值≥0.7,call frequency值≥0.95,且MAF值≥0.2的SNP位点,获得471个分型效果理想,检出率高且多态性较高的特异SNP位点。在471个SNP位点中,430个位于染色体上,41个位于scaffold片段上。考虑到标记间的连锁程度,剔除连锁标记37个,最终获得393个核心SNP位点。利用393个核心SNP构建了719份品种资源的特征DNA指纹图谱,除个别材料之间遗传背景高度相似、基因型完全一致外,97%的材料均能实现准确有效的鉴别。【结论】筛选出393个基因组特异的SNP,并利用这些核心SNP构建了719份资源材料的特征DNA指纹图谱,为SNP分子标记应用于棉花重要性状遗传改良提供了参考。

Cottonseed Protein, Oil, and Mineral Nutrition in Near-Isogenic <i>Gossypium hirsutum</i>Cotton Lines Expressing Leaf Color Phenotypes under Field Conditions

Information about the effects of phenotype traits on cottonseed protein, oil, and nutrients is scarce. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of leaf color trait on seed nutrition in near-isogenic Gossypium hirsutum cotton expressing green (G) and yellow (Y) leaf color phenotypes. Our hypothesis was that leaf color can influence the accumulation of nutrients in seeds. Sets of isogenic lines were: DES 119 (G) and DES 119 (Y);DP 5690 (G) and DP 5690 (Y);MD 51ne (G) and MD 51ne (Y);SG 747 (G) and SG 747 (Y). Each NIL set is 98.44 % identical. Parent line SA 30 (P) was used as the control. The experiment was repeated for two years (2014 and 2015). The results showed that, in 2014, seed oil in DES 119 (G) and SG 747 (G) were significantly higher than their equivalent yellow lines. Green lines showed higher content of phosphorus compared with yellow lines. Higher levels of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were recorded in DES 119 (G) and MD 51ne (G). In 2015, seed protein, oil, C, N, P, B, Cu, and Fe were higher in green lines than in yellow lines. There was a significant correlation between protein and nutrients, and between oil and nutrients in 2015, but not in 2014 as the temperature was warmer in 2015 than in 2014. This research demonstrated that leaf color can alter seed composition and mineral nutrition under certain environmental growing conditions such as temperature.

A method to refine crude cottonseed oil using non-toxic polyamine-based cationic polymers

The traditional method to refine crude cottonseed oil is time-consuming and expensive.This study evaluates the effectiveness of coagulation–flocculation–sedimentation process using quaternary polyamine-based polymers in refining crude cottonseed oil.Flocculated by four commercial polyamine-based cationic polymers(SL2700,SL3000,SL4500 and SL5000)with varied molecular weight(MW)and charge density(CD)and followed by coagulation with sodium hydroxide,crude cottonseed oil can be effectively purified.Free fatty acids,gossypol,pigments and trace elements are all effectively and sufficiently removed by the four polymers in a MW-and CDdependent manner.Our results suggest that the use of polyamine-based cationic polymers may offer an effective and feasible alternative to the traditional method for crude cottonseed oil refining.

Seed-specific overexpression of cotton GhDGAT1 gene leads to increased oil accumulation in cottonseed

As the main byproduct of cotton fiber,the cotton seed yields about 1.6 times that of fiber,with its oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids,mainly linoleic acid.It is desirable for breeders to increase the oil content of cottonseed without affecting the yield and quality of cotton fiber.In this study,a seed-specific promoter-(alpha-globulin gene promoter-)driven GhDGAT1 overexpression vector(P_(aGlob)-GhDGAT1)was constructed and used to transform an upland cotton line YZ1(Gossypium hirsutum).Overexpression of the cotton gene GhDGAT1 in cotton seeds increased its total oil content from 4.7%to 13.9%in different transgenic lines and different generations.With the increase of oil content,the composition and contents of the main fatty acids in cotton seed also changed,as reflected by the contents of the main saturated fatty acids and unsaturated oleic acid.GhDGAT1 could be used to increase oil content and improve oil composition in cottonseed.

Metabolic profile analysis based on GC-TOF/MS and HPLC reveals the negative correlation between catechins and fatty acids in the cottonseed of Gossypium hirsutum

Background: The diversified and high value-added utilization of cotton by products can promote the sustainable development of modern agriculture. Di erences in potential nutrients among varieties can be explained by variations in the composition and abundance of fatty acids, polyphenols, carbohydrates, amino acids, and organic acids. Therefore, the analysis of metabolite species and relationships in cottonseed is meaningful for the development of cotton byproducts.Results: In this study, the metabolomes of three representative cotton cultivars of di erent species were compared using untargeted GC-TOF/MS analysis. A total of 263 metabolites were identified from 705 peaks, and their levels were compared across cultivars. Principal component analysis and OPLS-DA clearly distinguish these samples based on metabolites. There were significant di erences in the contents of amino acids, carbohydrates, organic acids, flavonoids, and lipids in G. hirsutum TM-1 compared with G. arboreum Shixiya1 and G. barbadense Hai7124. Notably, the bioactive nutrient compound catechin obtained from the di erential metabolites significantly accumulated in TM-1. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis using catechin and oil-related traits was conducted in core collections of Gossypium hirsutum. The results revealed the reliability of the GC-TOF/MS analysis, as well as that catechin content has a negative association with myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidic acid, and total fatty acids.Conclusion: These findings suggest that untargeted GC-TOF/MS analysis could provide a new method for investigating the underlying plant biochemistry of nutrient variation in cottonseed, and that catechin content has a negative association with oil-related traits in cottonseed. This study may pave the way to exploit the value of cotton byproducts.

Phenylpropanoid metabolism and pigmentation show divergent patterns between brown color and green color cottons as revealed by metabolic and gene expression analyses

Background:Naturally-colored cotton has become increasingly popular because of their natural properties of coloration,UV protection,flame retardant,antibacterial activity and mildew resistance.But poor fiber quality and limited color choices are two key issues that have restricted the cultivation of naturally-colored cotton.To identify the possible pathways participating in fiber pigmentation in naturally-colored cottons,five colored cotton accessions in three different color types(with green,brown and white fiber)were chosen for a comprehensive analysis of phenylpropanoid metabolism during fiber development.Results:The expression levels of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway genes in brown cotton fibers were significantly higher than those in white and green cotton fibers.Total flavonoids and proanthocyanidin were higher in brown cotton fibers relative to those in white and green cotton fibers,which suggested that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway might not participate in the pigmentation of green cotton fibers.Further expression analysis indicated that the genes encoding enzymes for the synthesis of caffeic acid derivatives,lignin and lignan were activated in the developing fibers of the green cotton at 10 and 15 days post-anthesis.Conclusions:Our results strengthen the understanding of phenylpropanoid metabolism and pigmentation in green and brown cotton fibers,and may improve the breeding of naturally-colored cottons.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHINESE AND AMERICAN COTTONS

Thirty-six Chinese cottons were investigated for their physical properties using ASTM stand-ard test methods. Conventional methods using stelometer, fibrograph, and micronaireinstrumentation provided physical properties of tenacity, elongation, length, and fineness. Varietaland regional variations were examined. The Chinese cottons were compared with upland varietiesof American cottons grown across the country. In general, American cottons were stronger, butperhaps a little shorter than Chinese cottons. American cottons were no more mature on the aver-age, and they had lower elongations than did the Chinese cottons. The American cottons alsotended toward higher length uniformity than those varieties grown in China. High yarn strengthwas strongly favored by American cottons.

Research on the Properties of the Naturally Coloured Cottons

Structures and characteristics of naturally coloured cottons grown in China were analyzed. Breaking strength of yarns made of pure coloured cotton and coloured cotton fibres blended with other fibres were investigated. Colour fastness of the coloured cotton goods was tested. Suggestions for using the coloured cotton practically and effectively were also included.

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.

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.

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.

Inhibition of protein degradation increases the Bt protein concentration in Bt cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton production is challenged by two main problems,i.e.,the low concentration of Bt protein at the boll setting stage and the lowest insect resistance in bolls among all the cotton plant’s organs.Therefore,increasing the Bt protein concentration at the boll stage,especially in bolls,has become the main goal for increasing insect resistance in cotton.In this study,two protein degradation inhibitors(ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid(EDTA)and leupeptin)were sprayed on the bolls,subtending leaves,and whole cotton plants at the peak flowering stage of two Bt cultivars(medium maturation Sikang 1(SK1))and early maturation Zhongmian 425(ZM425)in 2019 and 2020.The Bt protein content and protein degradation metabolism were assessed.The results showed that the Bt protein concentrations were enhanced by 21.3 to 38.8%and 25.0 to 38.6%in the treated bolls of SK1 and ZM425 respectively,while they were decreased in the subtending leaves of these treated bolls.In the treated leaves,the Bt protein concentrations increased by 7.6 to 23.5%and 11.2 to 14.9%in SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The combined application of EDTA and leupeptin to the whole cotton plant increased the Bt protein concentrations in both bolls and subtending leaves.The Bt protein concentrations in bolls were higher,increasing by 22.5 to 31.0%and 19.6 to 32.5%for SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The organs treated with EDTA or/and leupeptin showed reduced free amino acid contents,protease and peptidase activities and significant enhancements in soluble protein contents.These results indicated that inhibiting protein degradation could improve the protein content,thus increasing the Bt protein concentrations in the bolls or/and leaves of cotton plants.Therefore,the increase in the Bt protein concentration without yield reduction suggested that these two protein degradation inhibitors may be applicable for improving insect resistance in cotton production.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.