Production of tocotrienols in seeds of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) enhances oxidative stability and offers nutraceutical potential

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an economically important multi-purpose crop cultivated globally for fibre, seed oil and protein. Cottonseed oil also is naturally rich in vitamin E components (collectively known as tocochromanols), with a- and c-tocopherols comprising nearly all of the vitamin E components. By contrast, cottonseeds have little or no tocotrienols, tocochromanols with a wide range of health benefits. Here, we generated transgenic cotton lines expressing the barley (Hordeum vulgare) homogentisate geranylgeranyl transferase coding sequence under the control of the Brassica napus seed-specific promoter, napin. Transgenic cottonseeds had ~twofold to threefold increases in the accumulation of total vitamin E (tocopherols + tocotrienols), with more than 60% c-tocotrienol. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging showed that c-tocotrienol was localized throughout the transgenic embryos. In contrast, the native tocopherols were distributed unequally in both transgenic and non-transgenic embryos. a- Tocopherol was restricted mostly to cotyledon tissues and c-tocopherol was more enriched in the embryonic axis tissues. Production of tocotrienols in cotton embryos had no negative impact on plant performance or yield of other important seed constituents including fibre, oil and protein. Advanced generations of two transgenic events were field grown, and extracts of transgenic seeds showed increased antioxidant activity relative to extracts from non-transgenic seeds. Furthermore, refined cottonseed oil from the two transgenic events showed 30% improvement in oxidative stability relative to the non-transgenic cottonseed oil. Taken together, these materials may provide new opportunities for cottonseed co-products with enhanced vitamin E profile for improved shelf life and nutrition

RNA Interference for Functional Genomics and Improvement of Cotton (Gossypium sp.)

RNA interference (RNAi), is a powerful new technology in the discovery of genetic sequence functions, and has become a valuable tool for functional genomics of cotton (Gossypium ssp.). The rapid adoption of RNAi has replaced previous antisense technology. RNAi has aided in the discovery of function and biological roles of many key cotton genes involved in fiber development, fertility and somatic embryogenesis, resistance to important biotic and abiotic stresses, and oil and seed quality improvements as well as the key agronomic traits including yield and maturity. Here, we have comparatively reviewed seminal research efforts in previously used antisense approaches and currently applied breakthrough RNAi studies in cotton, analyzing developed RNAi methodologies, achievements, limitations, and future needs in functional characterizations of cotton genes. We also highlighted needed efforts in the development of RNAi-based cotton cultivars, and their safety and risk assessment, small and large-scale field trials, and commercialisation

Method of Enhancing Quality Factors in Cotton

Patent relating to a method of enhancing quality factors in cotton

Relationship Between Cotton Varieties and Moisture Vapor Transport of Knitted Fabrics

Cotton offers next-to-skin comfort and hence is a preferred fiber for undergarments. There have been a number of studies on the effect of different fiber types, fabric structure, fabric finishes, etc. on the moisture vapor transport properties. However, there has been no report in the public domain on the relationship between cotton varieties on the moisture vapor transport characteristics of fabrics produced from them. The study reported in this paper focuses on the moisture vapor transport properties (MVTR) of cotton fabrics knitted from 31 different cotton fibers with different pedigrees grown over a three-year period in three major cotton growing regions of US, Southwest (Texas), Mid-South (Mississippi) and Southeast (Georgia). Results indicate that cotton varieties influence the MVTR of knitted fabrics produced from them. This study, for the first time has attempted to link varietal effects on the most important property of cotton—breathability quantified using MVTR. Preliminary analysis indicates a relationship between the basic sugar content such as verbascose of cotton and its moisture vapor transport. However this result has to be followed up with a thorough study

Table_3_Homology-based identification of candidate genes for male sterility editing in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).xlsx

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) accounts for more than 90% of the world’s cotton production, providing natural material for the textile and oilseed industries worldwide. One strategy for improving upland cotton yields is through increased adoption of hybrids; however, emasculation of cotton flowers is incredibly time-consuming and genetic sources of cotton male sterility are limited. Here we review the known biochemical modes of plant nuclear male sterility (NMS), often known as plant genetic male sterility (GMS), and characterized them into four groups: transcriptional regulation, splicing, fatty acid transport and processing, and sugar transport and processing. We have explored protein sequence homology from 30 GMS genes of three monocots (maize, rice, and wheat) and three dicots (Arabidopsis, soybean, and tomato). We have analyzed evolutionary relationships between monocot and dicot GMS genes to describe the relative similarity and relatedness of these genes identified. Five were lowly conserved to their source species, four unique to monocots, five unique to dicots, 14 highly conserved among all species, and two in the other category. Using this source, we have identified 23 potential candidate genes within the upland cotton genome for the development of new male sterile germplasm to be used in hybrid cotton breeding. Combining homology-based studies with genome editing may allow for the discovery and validation of GMS genes that previously had no diversity observed in cotton and may allow for development of a desirable male sterile mutant to be used in hybrid cotton production.</p

Table_2_Homology-based identification of candidate genes for male sterility editing in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).xlsx

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) accounts for more than 90% of the world’s cotton production, providing natural material for the textile and oilseed industries worldwide. One strategy for improving upland cotton yields is through increased adoption of hybrids; however, emasculation of cotton flowers is incredibly time-consuming and genetic sources of cotton male sterility are limited. Here we review the known biochemical modes of plant nuclear male sterility (NMS), often known as plant genetic male sterility (GMS), and characterized them into four groups: transcriptional regulation, splicing, fatty acid transport and processing, and sugar transport and processing. We have explored protein sequence homology from 30 GMS genes of three monocots (maize, rice, and wheat) and three dicots (Arabidopsis, soybean, and tomato). We have analyzed evolutionary relationships between monocot and dicot GMS genes to describe the relative similarity and relatedness of these genes identified. Five were lowly conserved to their source species, four unique to monocots, five unique to dicots, 14 highly conserved among all species, and two in the other category. Using this source, we have identified 23 potential candidate genes within the upland cotton genome for the development of new male sterile germplasm to be used in hybrid cotton breeding. Combining homology-based studies with genome editing may allow for the discovery and validation of GMS genes that previously had no diversity observed in cotton and may allow for development of a desirable male sterile mutant to be used in hybrid cotton production.</p

Table_1_Homology-based identification of candidate genes for male sterility editing in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).xlsx

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) accounts for more than 90% of the world’s cotton production, providing natural material for the textile and oilseed industries worldwide. One strategy for improving upland cotton yields is through increased adoption of hybrids; however, emasculation of cotton flowers is incredibly time-consuming and genetic sources of cotton male sterility are limited. Here we review the known biochemical modes of plant nuclear male sterility (NMS), often known as plant genetic male sterility (GMS), and characterized them into four groups: transcriptional regulation, splicing, fatty acid transport and processing, and sugar transport and processing. We have explored protein sequence homology from 30 GMS genes of three monocots (maize, rice, and wheat) and three dicots (Arabidopsis, soybean, and tomato). We have analyzed evolutionary relationships between monocot and dicot GMS genes to describe the relative similarity and relatedness of these genes identified. Five were lowly conserved to their source species, four unique to monocots, five unique to dicots, 14 highly conserved among all species, and two in the other category. Using this source, we have identified 23 potential candidate genes within the upland cotton genome for the development of new male sterile germplasm to be used in hybrid cotton breeding. Combining homology-based studies with genome editing may allow for the discovery and validation of GMS genes that previously had no diversity observed in cotton and may allow for development of a desirable male sterile mutant to be used in hybrid cotton production.</p

Conservation and Divergence of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Gene Family in Cotton

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is an important enzyme in plants, which regulates carbon flow through the TCA cycle and controls protein and oil biosynthesis. Although it is important, there is little research on PEPC in cotton, the most important fiber crop in the world. In this study, a total of 125 PEPCs were identified in 15 Gossypium genomes. All PEPC genes in cotton are divided into six groups and each group generally contains one PEPC member in each diploid cotton and two in each tetraploid cotton. This suggests that PEPC genes already existed in cotton before their divergence. There are additional PEPC sub-groups in other plant species, suggesting the different evolution and natural selection during different plant evolution. PEPC genes were independently evolved in each cotton sub-genome. During cotton domestication and evolution, certain PEPC genes were lost and new ones were born to face the new environmental changes and human being needs. The comprehensive analysis of collinearity events and selection pressure shows that genome-wide duplication and fragment duplication are the main methods for the expansion of the PEPC family, and they continue to undergo purification selection during the evolutionary process. PEPC genes were widely expressed with temporal and spatial patterns. The expression patterns of PEPC genes were similar in G. hirsutum and G. barbadense with a slight difference. PEPC2A and 2D were highly expressed in cotton reproductive tissues, including ovule and fiber at all tested developmental stages in both cultivated cottons. However, PEPC1A and 1D were dominantly expressed in vegetative tissues. Abiotic stress also induced the aberrant expression of PEPC genes, in which PEPC1 was induced by both chilling and salinity stresses while PEPC5 was induced by chilling and drought stresses. Each pair (A and D) of PEPC genes showed the similar response to cotton development and different abiotic stress, suggesting the similar function of these PEPCs no matter their origination from A or D sub-genome. However, some divergence was also observed among their origination, such as PEPC5D was induced but PEPC5A was inhibited in G. barbadense during drought treatment, suggesting that a different organized PEPC gene may evolve different functions during cotton evolution. During cotton polyploidization, the homologues genes may refunction and play different roles in different situations