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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Fiber Bioscience Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321826
Title: Comparative fiber property and transcriptome analyses reveal key genes potentially related to high fiber strength in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) line MD52ne

Author
item Islam, Md
item Fang, David
item Thyssen, Gregory
item Delhom, Christopher
item Liu, Yongliang
item Kim, Hee-Jin

Submitted to: BMC Plant Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/26/2016
Publication Date: 2/1/2016
Citation: Islam, M.S., Fang, D.D., Thyssen, G.N., Delhom, C.D., Liu, Y., Kim, H.J. 2016. Comparative fiber property and transcriptome analyses reveal key genes potentially related to high fiber strength in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) line MD52ne. Biomed Central (BMC) Plant Biology. 16:36.

Interpretive Summary: Textile industry has measured the fiber strength from a bundle of cotton fibers. The bundle fiber strength (BFS) is not always correlated with the strength of the yarn spun from cotton fibers since it is affected by other fiber properties involved in the interactions among fibers within a bundle in addition to the individual fiber strength. Cotton fiber strength measured from individual fibers is correlated with the yarn strength. Due to difficulties of measuring individual fiber strength, the BFS has been to date used for all genetic and genomic researches on cotton fiber strength. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms of regulating individual fiber strength affecting yarn strength are unknown. For identifying candidate genes regulating individual fiber strength, comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic analyses were performed using Gossypium hirsutum near isogenic lines (NILs), MD52ne and MD90ne that differ in individual fiber strength but similar in other fiber properties. Comparisons of mRNA abundance between the NILs showed that two signaling pathways were potentially related to high individual fiber strength of MD52ne fibers. One is ethylene and other phytohormonal pathways that are involved in cotton fiber elongation, and the other is receptor-like kinases (RLKs) signaling pathways that are involved in maintaining cell wall integrity. These newly identified candidate genes may be used to improve individual fiber strength and yarn strength.

Technical Abstract: Background: Individual fiber strength is an important quality attribute that greatly influences the strength of the yarn spun from cotton fibers. Fiber strength is usually measured from bundles of fibers due to the difficulty of reliably measuring strength from individual cotton fibers. However, bundle fiber strength (BFS) is not always correlated with yarn strength since it is affected by multiple fiber properties involved in fiber-to-fiber interactions within a bundle in addition to the individual fiber strength. Molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating individual fiber strength remain unknown. Gossypium hirsutum near isogenic lines (NILs), MD52ne and MD90ne showing variations in BFS provide an opportunity for dissecting the regulatory mechanisms involved in individual fiber strength. Results: Comprehensive fiber property analyses of the NILs revealed that the superior bundle strength of MD52ne fibers resulted from high individual fiber strength with minor contributions from greater fiber length. Comparative transcriptome analyses of the NILs showed that the superior bundle strength of MD52ne fibers was potentially related to two signaling pathways: one is ethylene and the interconnected phytohormonal pathways that are involved in cotton fiber elongation, and the other is receptor-like kinases (RLKs) signaling pathways that are involved in maintaining cell wall integrity. Multiple RLKs were differentially expressed in MD52ne fibers and localized in genomic regions encompassing the strength quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Several candidate genes involved in crystalline cellulose assembly were also up-regulated in MD52ne fibers while the secondary cell wall was produced. Conclusion: Comparative phenotypic and transcriptomic analyses revealed differential expressions of the genes involved in ethylene and RLK signaling pathways between the MD52ne and MD90ne developing fibers. Ethylene and its phytohormonal network might promote the elongation of MD52ne fibers and indirectly contribute to the bundle strength by potentially improving fiber-to-fiber interactions. RLKs that were suggested to mediate a coordination of cell elongation and SCW biosynthesis in other plants might be candidate genes for regulating cotton fiber cell wall assembly and strength.