‘Boju’ is a traditional Chinese herbal tea known for its unique flavor. To distinguish the flavor characteristics of its two main commercial cultivars, Chrysanthemum morifolium Hemsl. cv. 'Da Boju' (DBJ) and Chrysanthemum morifolium Hemsl cv. 'Xiao Boju' (XBJ), an integrated analytical platform combining electronic nose, electronic tongue, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC - IMS) was employed. Results showed that the electronic nose effectively differentiated the two cultivars, with the W2W sensor being the most responsive. Taste analysis indicated that both cultivars shared a profile characterized by saltiness, umami, and a lingering bitter aftertaste. GC - IMS detected 125 volatile signals, annotating 66 compounds. Further multivariate analysis screened 28 characteristic volatile markers, mainly classified as terpenoids, which elucidated the chemical basis for the observed sensory differences. This study provides a reliable strategy for the quality assessment of commercial chrysanthemum teas.

This study combined electronic nose, electronic tongue, and gas chromatography - ion mobility spectrometry (GC - IMS) to comprehensively evaluate the flavor characteristics of commercially available 'Boju' from both sensory attributes and chemical composition. In the electronic nose and electronic tongue analyses, the W2W sensor was identified as the key discriminator for the odor difference between Chrysanthemum morifolium Hemsl. cv. 'Da Boju' (DBJ) and Chrysanthemum morifolium Hemsl cv. 'Xiao Boju' (XBJ). A slight salty taste was detected in DBJ, while umami and lingering bitterness were the characteristic tastes distinguishing DBJ from XBJ. The utilisation of GC - IMS facilitated the identification of 125 volatile chemical components, of which 66 compounds were definitively identified. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS - DA) was subsequently implemented in order to identify 28 characteristic volatile elements.

Cotton is susceptible to waterlogging stress. Under hypoxic conditions, cellular energy production declined, shifting pyruvate metabolism from aerobic respiration to anaerobic fermentation. In this pathway, Pyruvate decarboxylase 2 (PDC2) catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to acetaldehyde and subsequently ethanol, activating glycolysis to sustain ATP production, which is crucial for basal respiration and stress tolerance. However, the functional role of PDC2 in mediating cotton’s tolerance response to waterlogging stress remains largely unexplored. In this study, we present preliminary evidence that GhPDC2 functions as a positive regulator of waterlogging tolerance in cotton. Transcriptomic profiling revealed significant upregulation of GhPDC2 in roots subjected to waterlogging, implying its involvement in stress adaptation. Further functional validation demonstrated that overexpression of GhPDC2 enhanced waterlogging tolerance compared to the WT and mutant lines, as evidenced by improved growth metrics including chlorophyll content, fresh/dry weight, and root length, alongside elevated ethanol accumulation, and increased ADH and PDC2 enzymatic activity. Additionally, GhPDC2 overexpression enhanced ROS scavenging capacity. Conversely, silencing GhPDC2 in cotton significantly compromised the development of adaptive morphological traits under waterlogging. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GhPDC2 modulates anaerobic metabolism during waterlogging by alleviating energy crises through ethanol accumulation, mitigating ROS production, and ultimately confers oxidative protection.

To adapt to low-oxygen environments, plants develop aerated tissues and hydrophobic barriers that facilitate internal respiration while protecting against radial oxygen loss (ROL). In plants exhibiting lenticel structures, reduced oxygen levels induce hypertrophy as a compensatory mechanism for oxygen deficiency and enhanced hydrophobic tolerance. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying the aeration and hydrophobic tolerance of inducible hypertrophied lenticels (Hpls) in cotton remain poorly understood. In this study, cotton lenticels were examined following exposure to continuous waterlogging for 10 and 20 days. Tolerant genotypes demonstrated an increase in Hpl formation and adventitious root development (AR), together with improved tolerance to 20 days of waterlogging stress. The Hpl regions exhibited induced thickening of cell wall and xylem tissue. Within the endodermal cells of Hpl, there was notable accumulation of extracellular vesicular tubular structures (EVBs), lignin, suberin, and casparian bands. Furthermore, the Hpl regions facilitated the formation of adventitious roots as well as internal aerated tissues characterized by cortical and arenchymatous phellem (AP). The development of secondary aerated tissues combined with the accumulation of hydrophobic polymers indicates that inducible Hpl plays a dual role in improving waterlogging tolerance.

BACKGROUND:Cotton (Gossypium spp.) serves as a vital global crop for textile production, with naturally pigmented brown cotton has gained industrial interest due to its eco-friendly coloration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying variation in color intensity in brown cotton fibers remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the genetic and biochemical basis of fiber color differentiation in hybrid-derived cotton lines spanning white, light-brown, middle-brown, and deep-brown phenotypes. RESULTS:Biochemical quantification revealed significantly elevated proanthocyanidin levels in brown cotton fibers compared to those in white counterparts, with their content positively correlating with color intensity. Transcriptomic profiling identified significant activation of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway genes in pigmented fibers. Among differentially expressed transcription factors, GhMYB5 (Ghir_D07G002110), an R2R3-type MYB regulator, exhibited gradual upregulation corresponding to color deepening. Functional characterization through qRT-PCR demonstrated GhMYB5's potential regulation of key flavonoid pathway genes GhCHS1 (Ghir_A10G012390), GhCHI3 (Ghir_A05G041560), and GhF3H (Ghir_D11G018670). Protein-DNA interaction assays (DAP-seq), yeast one-hybrid validation and LUC analysis confirmed direct binding of GhMYB5 to the promoter region of GhCHS1, establishing a regulatory node in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings reveal that GhMYB5-mediated transcriptional activation of GhCHS1 promotes proanthocyanidin accumulation in brown cotton fibers, providing a molecular explanation for color intensification. The identified MYB-CHS regulatory module offers potential targets for molecular breeding of naturally colored cotton varieties with enhanced pigmentation properties. This study advances our understanding of plant pigment biosynthesis and supports sustainable textile production through engineering of natural fiber coloration.

Brown cotton and white cotton are two important raw materials used in the cotton fiber industry. Clarifying the differences in morphology, agronomic traits, and fiber pigments between these varieties can facilitate the implementation of corresponding cultivation and breeding techniques. Therefore, we obtained F2 generation brown cotton plants through hybridization and compared them with their parents. In terms of agronomic traits, plant morphology and leaf shape were similar, but brown cotton presented more villi on the main stem. The first fruiting branch node was within the range of 4–6 cm, and the first fruiting branch node height was greater than that of TM-1, i.e., between 13.25 cm and 22.79 cm, with no difference compared with that of P26. The plant height was greater than that of the parents, and the number of bolls was essentially the same as that in TM-1 and greater than that in P26. The lint percentage and average fiber length were lower in TM-1 than in P26, and the seed index was greater than that in TM-1 and P26. Pigment measurements revealed that the chlorophyll a content in brown cotton during the boll stage was lower than that in white cotton, and the content of proanthocyanidin in the cotton fibers was greater in brown cotton than in white cotton. At 15 days after pollination, the highest content was 159.8 mg/g. To determine the differences in gene expression levels, we conducted transcriptome sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in pathways related to the cell wall and enzyme activity, whereas Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the DEGs were enriched in flavonoid synthesis pathways. Transcription factor analysis revealed that the expression of the MYB3 transcription factor (Ghir_D07G002110) was higher in brown cotton, and bioinformatics analysis revealed that this gene has regulatory effects on the CHS, CHI1, and F3H genes.

BACKGROUND:Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) plays a key role in cotton tolerance to abiotic stress. However, its role in cotton heat stress tolerance is not well understood. Here, we characterize the GhCDPK gene family and their expression profiles with the aim of identifying CDPK genes associated with heat stress tolerance. RESULTS:This study revealed 48 GhCDPK members in the cotton genome, distributed on 18 chromosomes. Tree phylogenetic analysis showed three main clustering groups of the GhCDPKs. Cis-elements revealed many abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways conserved promoter regions. Similarly, analysis of the transcription factor binding sites (TFBDS) in the GhCDPK genes showed many stress and hormone related sites. The expression analysis based on qRT-PCR showed that GhCDPK16 was highly responsive to high-temperature stress. Subsequent protein-protein interactions of GhCDPK16 revealed predictable interaction with ROS generating, calcium binding, and ABA signaling proteins. Overexpression of GhCDPK16 in cotton and Arabidopsis improved thermotolerance by lowering ROS compound buildup. Under heat stress, GhCDPK16 transgenic lines upregulated heat-inducible genes GhHSP70, GHSP17.3, and GhGR1, as demonstrated by qRT-PCR analysis. Contrarily, GhCDPK16 knockout lines in cotton exhibited an increase in ROS accumulation. Furthermore, antioxidant enzyme activity was dramatically boosted in the GhCDPK16-ox transgenic lines. CONCLUSIONS:The collective findings demonstrated that GhCDPK16 could be a viable gene to enhance thermotolerance in cotton and, therefore, a potential candidate gene for improving heat tolerance in cotton.

Fertilizer application is a decisive measure for the productivity of medicinal chrysanthemum plants. Therefore, determining the optimal doses of nutrients required for the growth and yield is crucial. In this study, we set out to investigate the effect of various nutrients on the growth, yield, and functional components of chrysanthemum under eight different fertilization levels at seedling, branching, and flowering growth periods. The results show that plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area under the balance fertilization treatment were the highest (82 cm, 0.78 cm, and 38.50 cm2, respectively), while the flower size and yield under the high potassium treatment were significantly increased compared to using balance fertilization. Chlorophyll content was also highest under the high potassium treatment. Moreover, plant defensive antioxidant peroxidase (POD) was responsive to low nitrogen treatment and low phosphorus treatment, while high potassium treatment enhanced the phenylalanine aminolase (PAL) activity and increased the content of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid in Chrysanthemum morifolium. In addition, low phosphorus treatment promoted the accumulation of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid content. Convincingly, the results show that growth, flowering, and functional indicators of chrysanthemum may thrive best under high potassium and balanced fertilization dosages, which will contribute to the development of a new economical chrysanthemum fertilizer ratio.

Begonia × benariensis series varieties have high ornamental and economic value and are excellent varieties for large-area group planting in gardens and green areas. At present, the B. × benariensis series varieties grown in China rely on foreign imports, and the price of imported germplasm resources is expensive, which greatly increases the cost of flower enterprises. In view of this, B. × benariensis (2n = 2x = 34) was used as the material, the callus was treated with colchicine to induce polyploid plants, and the polyploid plants were subjected to morphology, DNA content identification, and stomatal identification, as well as comparisons of the morphophysiological indexes of the plants. The results showed that the polyploid was better induced with the treatment of 0.05% colchicine for 4 h, and the induction rate was 46.67%. Among the mutagenized plants, there were 42 triploids (2n = 3x = 51) and 98 tetraploids (2n = 4x = 68). The stomatal density of diploid leaves was about 1.09 times that of the triploid and 1.67 times that of the tetraploid, the defense cells of the leaves increased gradually, and the stomatal density decreased; with the increase in ploidy, the height of the plants increased, while the crown width decreased; the maximum length and width of the leaves decreased, the color of the leaves became darker, and the chlorophyll content increased. This study provides abundant variation materials and technical support for the selection and breeding of new varieties of B. × benariensis in the future.

To provide a scientific basis for controlling mulberry bacterial blight in Bazhong, Sichuan, China (BSC), this study aimed to isolate and purify pathogenic bacteria from diseased branches of mulberry trees in the region and to clarify their taxonomic status using morphological observation, physiological and biochemical detection, molecular-level identification, and the construction of a phylogenetic tree. A total of 218 bacterial strains were isolated from samples of diseased mulberry branches. Of these, 7 strains were identified as pathogenic bacteria based on pathogenicity tests conducted in accordance with Koch’s postulates. Preliminary findings from the analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence indicated that the 7 pathogenic bacteria are members of Klebsiella spp. Morphological observation revealed that the pathogenic bacteria were oval-shaped and had capsules but no spores. They could secrete pectinase, cellulase, and protease and were able to utilize D-glucose, D-mannose, D-maltose, and D-Cellobiose. The 7 strains of pathogenic bacteria exhibited the highest homology with Klebsiella oxytoca. This study identifies Klebsiella oxytoca as the causative agent of mulberry bacterial blight in BSC, laying the foundation for the prevention and control of this pathogen and further investigation into its pathogenic mechanism.

Copper(II) (Cu2+) is essential for plant growth and development. However, high concentrations are extremely toxic to plants. We investigated the tolerance mechanism of cotton under Cu2+ stress in a hybrid cotton variety (Zhongmian 63) and two parent lines with different Cu2+ concentrations (0, 0.2, 50, and 100 μM). The stem height, root length, and leaf area of cotton seedlings had decreased growth rates in response to increasing Cu2+ concentrations. Increasing Cu2+ concentration promoted Cu2+ accumulation in all three cotton genotypes' roots, stems, and leaves. However, compared with the parent lines, the roots of Zhongmian 63 were richer in Cu2+ and had the least amount of Cu2+ transported to the shoots. Moreover, excess Cu2+ also induced changes in cellular redox homeostasis, causing accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Conversely, antioxidant enzyme activity increased, while photosynthetic pigment content decreased. Our findings indicated that the hybrid cotton variety fared well under Cu2+ stress. This creates a theoretical foundation for the further analysis of the molecular mechanism of cotton resistance to copper and suggests the potential of the large-scale planting of Zhongmian 63 in copper-contaminated soils.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a vital coenzyme for several enzymes involved in diverse enzymatic reactions in animals. BH4 deficiency can lead to metabolic and neurological disorders due to dysfunction in its metabolism. Sepiapterin reductase (SPR) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) are crucial enzymes in the BH4 de novo synthesis pathway and salvage pathway, respectively. Dihydrobiopterin (BH2) is an oxidized product of BH4 metabolism. The ratio of BH4/BH2 is a key indicator of the stability of BH4 levels. The de novo pathway of BH4 synthesis is well-defined; however, little is known about the mechanisms of the salvage pathway in insects. Herein, we used the natural BmSPR mutant silkworm (lem) as a resource material. Our results reveal that the BmDHFR expression and the BH4/BH2 ratio were remarkably higher in lem as compared to the wild-type silkworm. In BmN cells, knockdown of BmSpr showed increased BmDHFR expression, while the BH4/BH2 ratio decreased after BmDhfr knockdown by RNAi. Furthermore, simultaneous RNAi of BmSpr and BmDhfr showed a further decrease in the BH4/BH2 ratio. These manifest that the expression of BmDHFR is up-regulated to trigger an increase in the BH4/BH2 ratio when the de novo synthesis of BH4 is blocked in silkworm. Additionally, the knockdown of BmSpr in wild-type silkworms also showed an increased BmDHFR level and BH4/BH2 ratio. Taken together, when the silkworm BH4 de novo synthesis pathway is blocked, the salvage pathway is activated, and BmDHFR plays an important role in maintaining the metabolic balance of silkworm BH4. This study enriches our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the BH4 salvage pathway and lays a good foundation for further studies on BH4 using the silkworm as a model insect.

IntroductionCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is susceptible to long-term waterlogging stress; however, genomic information of cotton response mechanisms toward long days of waterlogging is quite elusive.MethodsHere, we combined the transcriptome and metabolome expression level changes in cotton roots after 10 and 20 days of waterlogging stress treatment pertaining to potential resistance mechanisms in two cotton genotypes.Results and discussionNumerous adventitious roots and hypertrophic lenticels were induced in CJ1831056 and CJ1831072. Transcriptome analysis revealed 101,599 differentially expressed genes in cotton roots with higher gene expression after 20 days of stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating genes, antioxidant enzyme genes, and transcription factor genes (AP2, MYB, WRKY, and bZIP) were highly responsive to waterlogging stress among the two genotypes. Metabolomics results showed higher expressions of stress-resistant metabolites sinapyl alcohol, L-glutamic acid, galactaric acid, glucose 1-phosphate, L-valine, L-asparagine, and melibiose in CJ1831056 than CJ1831072. Differentially expressed metabolites (adenosine, galactaric acid, sinapyl alcohol, L-valine, L-asparagine, and melibiose) significantly correlated with the differentially expressed PRX52, PER1, PER64, and BGLU11 transcripts. This investigation reveals genes for targeted genetic engineering to improve waterlogging stress resistance to enhance abiotic stress regulatory mechanisms in cotton at the transcript and metabolic levels of study.

Naturally brown colored cotton (NBCC) is becoming increasingly popular due to its natural properties of coloration. However, poor fiber quality and color fading are key issues that are hindering the cultivation of naturally colored cotton. In this study, based on transcriptome and metabolome of 18 days post-anthesis (DPA), we compared the variations of pigment formation in two brown cotton fibers (DCF and LCF), with white cotton fiber (WCF) belonging to a near-isogenic line. A transcriptome study revealed a total of 15,785 differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, for flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes, such as flavonoid 3′5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), anthocyanidin reductase (ANR), chalcone synthase (CHS), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and chalcone isomerase (CHI), their expressions significantly increased in LCF compared with DCF and WCF. Moreover, transcription factors MYB and bHLH were significantly expressed in LCF and DCF. Most flavonoid-related metabolites (myricetin naringenin, catechin, epicatechin-epiafzelechin, and epigallocatechin) were found to be more highly up-regulated in LCF and DCF than WCF. These findings reveal the regulatory mechanism controlling different brown pigmentation in cotton fibers and elucidate the need for the proper selection of high-quality brown cotton fiber breeding lines for promising fiber quality and durable brown color pigmentation.

The BmSuc1 gene, which encodes a novel animal-type β-fructofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.26), was first cloned and identified in silkworm (Bombyx mori). As an essential sucrase, the activity of BmSUC1 is unaffected by alkaloidal sugar mimics in mulberry leaves. This enzyme may also directly regulate the degree of sucrose hydrolysis in the silkworm midgut. In addition, BmSUC1 is involved in the synthesis of sericin 1 in the silk gland tissue. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of BmSuc1 transcription remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the BmSuc1 promoter activity using a dual-luciferase reporter assay and identified 4 regions that are critical for transcriptional activation. The gene encoding a predicted transcription factor (TATA-box-binding protein; BmTBP) capable of binding to the core promoter regions was cloned. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated the gene was highly expressed in the midgut. Downregulating BmTBP expression via RNA interference decreased the expression of BmSuc1 at the transcript and protein levels. An electrophoretic mobility shift analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation indicated that BmTBP can bind to the TATA-box cis-regulatory element in the BmSuc1 promoter. Furthermore, a bioinformatics-based analysis and a far-western blot revealed the interaction between BmTBP and another transcription factor (BmTfIIA-S). The luciferase reporter gene assay results confirmed that the BmTBP-BmTfIIA-S complex increases the BmSuc1 promoter activity. Considered together, these findings suggest that BmTBP regulates BmSuc1 expression through its interaction with BmTfIIA-S.

The silk-spinning and Lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori (Bombycidae) is a mulberry specialist. The BmSuc1 gene is the first β-fructofuranosidase (β-FFase) encoding gene identified in animals, and β-FFase acts as an essential sucrase for glycometabolism modulation in the silkworm larvae, involved in resistance to mulberry alkaloids. Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an important mulberry pest leading to heavy economic loss of sericulture. However, no molecular or biochemical information is available about G. pyloalis β-FFase homologs. In this study, five β-FFase homologous genes in G. pyloalis were obtained. The genes GpSuc1a and GpSuc2c were expressed in the midgut; GpSuc2c encodes a truncated polypeptide. The expression and the localization of GpSUC1a in the midgut was characterized. Whereas recombinant GpSUC1a expressed in both Escherichia coli and BmN cells displayed little activity as compared with higher activity of BmSUC1, β-FFase activity in the larval midgut of G. pyloalis and GpSUC1a purified from the midgut were both confirmed. The data suggested that the activation of GpSUC1a is probably controlled by a more complicated post-translational regulation system in G. pyloalis larvae than that of BmSUC1 in B. mori. To study post-translational modifications (PTMs), GpSUC1a and BmSUC1 were purified from larval midguts using immunoprecipitation and subjected to LC-MS to perform PTMs analysis. Some putative N-glycosylated sites were found in GpSUC1a but none in BmSUC1, while there was more methylation in BmSUC1 than in GpSUC1a, indicating that such PTMs were supporting the differential β-FFases activities in these two mulberry feeding caterpillars.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a vital coenzyme for several enzymes involved in diverse enzymatic reactions in animals, and BH4 deficiency can lead to metabolic and neurological disorders due to dysfunction in its metabolism. In the silkworm natural homozygous mutant leml, the key enzyme sepiapterin reductase (BmSPR) in the de novo synthesis pathway of BH4 is inactivated, resulting in severe deficiency of BH4 synthesis. However, it is not known why the leml larvae can survive to the second-instar stage and which pathways lead to their death when BH4 is deficient. Here, we quantified BH4 and found that the fertilized eggs contained large amounts of BH4 transferred from the mother to the offspring, maintaining its normal development in the embryo and the first instar. Subsequently, we investigated the multiple pathways in which BH4 is involved as a cofactor. The results showed that BH4 deficiency in silkworms blocked the melanin synthesis pathway, caused an insufficient degree of epidermal sclerosis, disordered tyrosine metabolism, and damaged mitochondria. On the other hand, BH4 deficiency led to the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase (BmNOS), a reduced NO production, and a significantly reduced fat in fat body catalyzation by phospholipase A2, resulting in an impaired immune system. Meanwhile, the uncoupling of BmNOS increased the O2− content, damaged the DNA, and caused the apoptosis of the body cells. Taken together, BH4 is critical for the life and death of leml mutants. This study lays a foundation for the further exploration of lepidopteran insects and provides an important basis for the treatment of human BH4 deficiency-related diseases.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a major crop worldwide. Although its raw material is largely valuable in the textile sector and as a source of edible oil, it is susceptible to waterlogging stress circumstances. As a result, increasing plant stress tolerance requires an understanding of the mechanisms by which the plant adapts to waterlogging stress. In this study, 17 of 30 cotton genotypes increased germination after 10 days of waterlogging, but 28 of 30 cotton genotypes decreased germination after 20 days of stress. Plant height, taproot length, and fresh weight decreased significantly in many plants after 10 and 20 days of stress as compared to controls. Furthermore, leaf area dropped at 10 days but dramatically increased as stress time increased up to 20 days of waterlogging. Chlorophyll content increased in numerous cotton genotypes. However, sensitive cultivars, on the other hand, dropped considerably, with a loss rate of 0.5734–3.4485 mg⸳g-1 compared to 0.6799–1.2619 mg⸳g-1 in the control group. Likewise, as the stress period increased from 10 to 20 days, antioxidant activity peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) increased at a decreasing rate. This article clarifies the physio-biochemical processes that support cotton's waterlogging stress response, which will be valuable for future waterlogging stress research as well as cotton genetic research and breeding. However, it is critical to test the selected varieties in the field in order to determine their optimum resistance to waterlogging situations.

With the continuous growth of the human population, the demand for fiber is also rising sharply. As one of the main fiber plants available globally, cotton fiber yield (Gossypium hirsutum) is affected by boll abscission, which is related to the formation of the abscission layer. Therefore, we explored the formation of the abscission layer in cotton. The formation of the abscission layer in the cotton boll stalk was promoted by exogenous ethylene. It was found that both the number of the Golgi apparatus and the number of stacking layers increased in the dissociated cells. The GhArfGAP gene family in cotton was screened by the bioinformatics method, and the species and evolutionary relationship of the GhArfGAP gene family were analyzed. qRT-PCR showed that GhArfGAP13, GhArfGAP15, GhArfGAP25, and GhArfGAP34 in cotton had spatiotemporal-specific expression patterns. Subcellular localization suggested that GhArfGAP25 played a role in the Golgi apparatus. The expression of GhArfGAP25 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana is increased in the roots, stems, and leaves. Finally, we found that ethylene could induce the formation of the abscission layer in cotton. GhArfGAP13, GhArfGAP15, GhArfGAP25, and GhArfGAP34 might regulate the changes in the Golgi apparatus in the abscission layer. Taken together, the findings provide new ideas for the study of the formation of cotton abscission.

在我国长江中下游地区的棉花种植区域,由于受到长时间梅雨季和强降雨的影响,棉花在生长发育时期容易受到涝害胁迫,棉花的生理生化特征和分子机制都发生了变化,植株地下部分缺氧使地上部分的干物质合成受阻,导致棉花产量和品质严重下降,这成为当前长江流域棉花产业稳定的一大问题.综述了涝害对棉花生理生化特征以及品质产量的影响,并进一步分析了棉花耐涝的分子机制,为棉花耐涝种质资源筛选和新品种选育提供了理论依据.