Genome-wide association study of micronaire using a natural population of representative upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Background: Micronaire is a comprehensive index reflecting the fineness and maturity of cotton fiber.Micronaire is one of the important internal quality indicators of the cotton fiber and is closely related to the value of the cotton fiber.Understanding the genetic basis of micronaire is required for the genetic improvement of the trait.However,the genetic architecture of micronaire at the genomic level is unclear.The present genome-wide association study(GWAS)aimed to identify the genetic mechanism of the micronaire trait in 83 representa:tive upland cotton lines grown in multiple environments.Results GWAS of micronaire used 83 upland cotton accessions assayed by a Cotton 63 K Illumina Infinium single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)array.A total of 11 quantitative trait loci(QTLs)for micronaire were detected on 10 chromosomes.These 11 QTLs included 27 identified genes with specific expression patterns.A novel QTL,qFM-A12–1,included 12 significant SNPs,and GhFLA9 was identified as a candidate gene based on haplotype block analysis and on strong and direct linkage disequilibrium between the significantly related SNPs and gene.GhFLA9 was expressed at a high level during secondary wall thickening at 20∼25 days post-anthesis.The expression level of GhFLA9 was significantly higher in the low micronaire line(Msco-12)than that in the high micronaire line(Chuangyou-9).Conclusions: This study provides a genetic reference for genetic improvement of cotton fiber micronaire and a foundation for verification of the functions of GhFLA9.

Application of near infrared spectroscopy in cotton fiber micronaire measurement

The term‘‘micronaire”describes an important cotton fiber property by characterizing both the fiber maturity and fineness.In practice,micronaire is regularly measured in laboratories with the well established high volume instrumentation(HVITM)protocol.In most scenarios,cotton breeders/geneticists sent cotton breeding line field trial samples to laboratories equipped to use the HVI^TM systems available for fiber micronaire determination.Researchers have previously investigated the use of NIR as an alternative means of measuring micronaire either at breeding sites or in standard laboratories.As a proof-of-concept investigation,this study collected both near infrared(NIR)spectra and HVI^TM micronaire from a total of 381 cottons harvested in the 2011 and 2012 crop years.Partial least square(PLS)calibration model relating NIR spectral information to fiber HVITM micronaire was developed and then applied to both a validation sample set from identical crop years and an independent test sample set from the 2014 crop year.Results indicated an acceptable bias(or differences between HVI^TM measured and NIR predicted micronaire)and an over 97%correctly predicted micronaire(within±0.30 micronaire unit)in an independent test set.Therefore,the development of a robust and effective NIR model for rapid laboratory micronaire assessment that would be applicable to remote/breeding locations is feasible.

Growth, yield and fiber quality characteristics of Bt and non-Bt cotton cultivars in response to boron nutrition

Background Boron(B)deficiency is an important factor for poor seed cotton yield and fiber quality.However,it is often missing in the plant nutrition program,particularly in developing countries.The current study investigated B’s effect on growth,yield,and fiber quality of Bt(CIM-663)and non-Bt(Cyto-124)cotton cultivars.The experimental plan consisted of twelve treatments:Control(CK);B at 1 mg·kg^(−1) soil application(SB1);2 mg·kg^(−1) B(SB2);3 mg·kg^(−1) B(SB3);0.2%B foliar spray(FB1);0.4%B foliar spray(FB2);1 mg·kg^(−1) B+0.2%B foliar spray(SB1+FB1);1 mg·kg^(−1) B+0.4%B foliar spray(SB1+FB2);2 mg·kg^(−1) B+0.2%B foliar spray(SB2+FB1);2 mg·kg^(−1) B+0.4%B foliar spray(SB2+FB2);3 mg·kg^(−1) B+0.2%B foliar spray(SB3+FB1);3 mg·kg^(−1) B+0.4%B foliar spray(SB3+FB2).Each treat-ment has three replications,one pot having two plants per replication.Results B nutrition at all levels and methods of application significantly(P≤0.05)affected the growth,physiological,yield,and fiber quality characteristics of both cotton cultivars.However,SB2 either alone or in combination with foliar spray showed superiority over others,particularly in the non-Bt cultivar which responded better to B nutrition.Maxi-mum improvement in monopodial branches(345%),sympodial branches(143%),chlorophyll-a(177%),chlorophyll-b(194%),photosynthesis(169%),and ginning out turn(579%)in the non-Bt cultivar was found with SB2 compared with CK.In Bt cultivar,although no consistent trend was found but integrated use of SB3 with foliar spray performed relatively better for improving cotton growth compared with other treatments.Fiber quality characteristics in both cultivars were improved markedly but variably with different B treatments.Conclusion B nutrition with SB2 either alone or in combination with foliar spray was found optimum for improving cotton’s growth and yield characteristics.

Effects of irrigation and planting geometry on cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)fiber quality and seed composition

Background:Cotton fiber quality and seed composition play vital roles in the economics of cotton production systems and the cottonseed meal industry.This research aimed to examine the effects of different irrigation levels and planting geometries on fiber quality and seed composition of cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.).We conducted a 2-year study in 2018 and 2019 in a warm,humid area in the Southeast United States on Dundee silt loam soil.There were three irrigation treatments in the study.The treatments included irrigating every furrow,or full irrigation(FI),every alternate furrow,or half irrigation(HI),and no irrigation,or rain-fed(RF).Planting geometries were on ridges spaced 102 cm apart and either a single-row(SR)or twin-rows(TR).Results:The results of high-volume instrument(HVI),advanced fiber information systems(AFIS)and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy(NIRS)showed that irrigation and planting treatments played a significant role in fiber quality and seed composition.Across irrigation treatments,significant differences were seen in fiber properties,including fineness,maturity ratio,micronaire,neps,short fiber,strength,uniformity,upper half mean length(UHML),upper quartile length by weight(UQLw),and yellowness(+b).Irrigation and planting geometry(PG)had a significant effect on micronaire,strength,and UHML while their interaction was significant only for micronaire.The micronaire was negatively affected by irrigation as FI-SR,FI-TR,HI-SR,and HI-TR recorded 11%~12%lower over the RF-SR and TR treatments.The PG played a minor role in determining fiber quality traits like micronaire and nep count.Irrigation treatments produced significantly lower(3%~4%)protein content than rain-fed,while oil content increased significantly(6%~10%).Conclusions:The study results indicate a potential for improving cotton fiber and seed qualities by managing irrigation and planting geometries in cotton production systems in the Mississippi(MS)Delta region.The HI-TR system appears promising for lint and seed quality.

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.

Reproductive Performance and Fiber Quality Responses of Cotton to Potassium Nutrition

Potassium (K) deficiency affects cotton growth and development and fiber properties. An experiment was conducted in an outdoor pot culture facility by imposing four potassium stress treatments (100%, 40%, 20% and 0% of optimum K level) prior to flowering during 2010 and 2011 growing season. Upland cotton cultivar, TM-1, was seeded in the pots comprised of fine sand as rooting medium. Flowers and bolls were tagged daily to estimate boll maturation period (BMP). Leaf samples were collected every four days from flowering to maturity to estimate leaf K content. Plant height and node numbers were recorded from emergence to 21 days after treatment. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were measured weekly from day of treatment imposition to physiological maturity at an interval of seven days. Stem, leaf, and boll dry-component weights, and boll numbers were recorded at the end of the experiment in each year. From each boll, the lint samples were collected and grouped based on average leaf potassium concentration during BMP, and fiber quality parameters were recorded for each group in each treatment. At high K deficient (0 K) condition, total biomass declined by 27% and 28% in years 2010 and 2011, respectively. Significantly, lower numbers of bolls were retained per plant at 0 K stress treatment during both the years. Leaf photosynthesis (r2 = 0.92) and stomatal conductance (r2 = 0.80) declined with declining leaf K levels. Fiber length, strength, micronaire, and uniformity declined linearly with decrease in leaf K content. Weaker fibers with medium length were produced under K-deficient conditions with micronaire values in the discount range. Fiber uniformity, however, did not decline with decrease in leaf K. The identified leaf K status-specific relationships for fiber properties could be used to improve management practices under potassium deficiency and to develop new sub-routines of the existing cotton simulation models. New and improved models will be useful not only in management, but also in arena of policy decisions including future climate change impact assessment analysis.