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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283325

Title: RNAi-mediated ultra-low gossypol cottonseed trait: Performance of transgenic lines under field conditions

Author
item SREENATH, REDDY PALLE - Texas A&M University
item CAMPBEL, LEANNE - Texas A&M University
item PANDEYA, DEVENDRA - Texas A&M University
item Puckhaber, Lorraine
item Stipanovic, Robert - Bob
item WEDEGAERTNER, THOMAS - Cotton, Inc
item Hinze, Lori
item RATHORE, KEERTI - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Journal of Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2012
Publication Date: 3/4/2013
Citation: Sreenath, R., Campbel, L.M., Pandeya, D., Puckhaber, L.S., Stipanovic, R.D., Wedegaertner, T.C., Hinze, L.L., Rathore, K.S. 2013. RNAi-mediated ultra-low gossypol cottonseed trait: Performance of transgenic lines under field conditions. Journal of Biotechnology. 11:296-304.

Interpretive Summary: Cottonseed contains a compound called gossypol that occurs naturally in the seed. Gossypol is toxic to non-ruminant animals. Gossypol also occurs naturally in the folaige where it protects the plant form insects. Cottonseed with very low levels of gossypol in the seed, but with normal levels of gossypol in the foliage have been developed using genetic manipulations. This seed is referred to as ultra-low gossypol cottonseed (ULGCS); it may be possible to safely feed this seed to non-ruminant animals. Field trials over a three year period showed that the ULGCS trait was stable and the foliage contained normal levels of gossypol and related compounds that protect the plant from insects. In addition, yield and fiber quality were equal to or superior to parents lines that were not genetically modified. A similar trend was observed for seed yields. The composition of the ULGCS was similar to that of the parents, with the exception of oil content. That is, the ULGCS had significantly higher (4-8%) oil content compared to the seeds from the parental line. This data supports the possible use of ULGCS as a feed for non-ruminant annimals.

Technical Abstract: Ultra-low gossypol cottonseed (ULGCS) lines were developed using RNAi-knockdown of d-cadinene synthase gene(s) in Gossypium hirsutum. This RNAi-mediated ULGCS trait has exhibited multi-generational stability under greenhouse conditions. The purpose of the current study was to assess the stability and specificity of the ULGCS trait in the transgenic lines under field conditions. In addition, we also investigated whether the engineered trait had any adverse effects on the yield/quality of the seeds or fiber. Trials were conducted over a period of three years and the results show that the ULGCS trait was stable under field conditions and the non-seed tissues contained normal, wild-type levels of gossypol and related terpenoids. The transgenic plants were no more vulnerable to diseases or pests compared to their non-transgenic counterparts. We did not observe any negative effects on either the yield or quality of the fiber in the transgenic lines. In fact, in two of the three years, transformants had higher yield and better fiber quality. A similar trend was observed for seed yields in the transgenic lines. Compositional analysis was performed on the seeds obtained from plants grown in the field during 2009. Overall, the composition of ULGCS was similar to that of wild-type cottonseeds, with the exception of oil content. Interestingly, a follow up study involving NMR-based oil content analysis on seeds obtained from all three years confirmed that the ULGCS had significantly higher (4-8%) oil content compared to the seeds from the parental line. Field trial results confirmed the stability and specificity of the ULGCS trait suggesting that this RNAi-based product has the potential to be commercially viable. Thus, it may yet be possible to enhance and expand the nutritional utility of the enormous, annual cottonseed output to fulfill the ever-increasing needs of humanity.