Author
|
Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2018 Publication Date: 7/16/2018 Citation: Fang, D.D., Naoumkina, M.A., Kim, H.J. 2018. Unraveling cotton fiber development using fiber mutants in the post-genomic era. Crop Science. 58(6):2214-2228. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.03.0184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.03.0184 Interpretive Summary: Cotton fibers are seed hairs that develop from surface cells of developing seeds. Cotton fiber development is divided into four distinctive yet overlapping stages: initiation, elongation, secondary cell wall thickening, and maturation. There are numerous fiber mutants that display abnormal phenotypes ranging from fiberless to extremely short fiber. These mutants have provided cotton researchers an excellent model system to study fiber growth and development. During the past two decades, many advancements in understanding fiber development have been achieved through comparative analysis of fiber mutants and normal cotton lines using a variety of technologies such as genetic mapping, gene cloning and whole genome sequencing. The causative genes of four mutations have been identified. Fiber initiations are regulated by MYBMIXTA-like transcription factors along with many other genes. Cytoskeleton actins play a critical role in fiber elongation. Genes that are able to transport osmoticum or loose cell walls are upregulated during the elongation stage. Production of large amount of cellulose for second cell wall thickening requires sustainable supply of energy and carbon precursors. Plant hormones regulate fiber genes and consequently affect fiber development. In this paper, accomplishments and progress in the area of elucidating fiber development by utilizing fiber mutants are reviewed. We identified research gaps that could be future research priorities. We also provided a future perspective. This paper will serve as a summary of the current state of cotton fiber research based on analysis of fiber mutants and a reference for future research in this subject matter. Technical Abstract: Cotton fibers are unicellular trichomes that differentiate from epidermal cells of developing ovules. Cotton fiber development is divided into four distinctive yet overlapping stages: initiation, elongation, secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis, and maturation. There are numerous naturally occurring and man-made fiber mutants that display aberrant phenotypes ranging from fiberless to extremely short fiber, and to immature fiber. These mutants have provided cotton researchers an excellent model system to study fiber growth and development. During the past two decades, many advancements in understanding fiber development have been achieved through comparative analysis of fiber mutants and wild type cotton lines using a variety of technologies such as cDNA microarray, genetic mapping, gene cloning and whole genome sequencing. The causative genes of four mutations have been identified through map-based cloning. Lint and fuzz fiber initiations are regulated by MYBMIXTA-like transcription factors along with many other genes. Cytoskeleton actins play a critical role in fiber elongation. Genes that are able to transport osmoticum or loose cell walls are upregulated during the elongation stage. Production of large amount of cellulose at SCW biosynthesis stage requires sustainable supply of energy and carbon precursors. Plant hormones regulate fiber genes and consequently affect fiber development. In this paper, we reviewed accomplishments and progress in the area of elucidating fiber development by utilizing fiber mutants, and summarized genes and mechanisms that are critical to fiber development. We identified research gaps that could be future research priorities. In the end, we provided a future perspective. This review paper may serve as a summary of the current state of cotton fiber research based on analysis of fiber mutants and a reference for future research in this subject matter. |
