Influence of curly leaf trait on cottonseed micro-nutrient status in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lines

Authors: Bellaloui, Nacer; Turley, Rickie; Stetina, Salliana - Sally

Submitted to: Plants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2021
Publication Date: 8/18/2021
Citation: Bellaloui, N., Turley, R.B., Stetina, S.R. 2021. Influence of curly leaf trait on cottonseed micro-nutrient status in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lines. Plants. 10(8):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081701.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081701

Interpretive Summary: Cottonseed is an important source of nutrients, including micro-nutrients boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). These micronutrients are important for human health and deficiencies of these micro-nutrients in soil lead to poor crop production and poor seed quality. Micronutrient deficiencies in the human diet lead to malnutrition and serious health issues. Therefore, identifying new cotton varieties containing high nutritional qualities, and understanding plant traits influencing seed micro-nutrients are essential. Leaf shape is an important trait because it is associated with photosynthesis and nutrient absorption and metabolism, regulating processes controlling seed quality and production. The objective of this research was to compare the micronutrient level in cottonseed from two curly leaf lines (Uzbek curly leaf and DP 5690 curly leaf) and one normal leaf line (DP 5690 normal leaf). A field experiment was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Stoneville, MS, USA. The results showed that both parents (Uzbek curly leaf and DP 5690 normal leaf) had higher levels of seed boron, copper, iron, and nickel than DP 5690 curly leaf in both years. However, DP 5690 curly leaf had higher manganese and zinc in only one year. The results indicated that leaf shape can affect nutrient absorption and metabolism. The different response of manganese and zinc across years may be due to the heat effect as 2015 was warmer than 2014. This research demonstrated that the curly leaf shape trait can affect cottonseed nutritional qualities. This research provides important information to breeders for cotton selection for high seed micro-nutrients, and further knowledge to other researchers on the impact of leaf shapes on seed nutritional qualities. Leaf shape can be used as a tool to further understand physiological and biochemical processes involved in leaf development and their impact on cottonseed quality and lint production.

Technical Abstract: Cottonseed is a source of nutrients, including protein, oil, and macro- and micro-nutrients. Micro-nutrients such as boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are essential for plant and human health. Deficiencies of these micro-nutrients in soil lead to poor crop production and poor seed quality. Micro-nutrient deficiencies in the human diet lead to malnutrition and serious health issues. Therefore, identifying new cotton lines containing high nutritional qualities such as micro-nutrients, and understanding plant traits influencing micro-nutrients are essential. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of leaf shape (curly leaf: CRL) on cottonseed B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni (nickel), and Zn in two near-isogenic cotton lines differing in curly leaf (DP 5690 wild-type with normal leaves and DP 5690 CRL). We also used Uzbek CRL, the source of curly leaf trait, for comparison. A field experiment was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Stoneville, MS, USA. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results showed that, in 2014, both DP 5690 wild-type and Uzbek CRL had higher seed B, Cu, Fe, and Ni than in DP 5690 CRL. The accumulation of Mn and Zn in seeds of DP 5690 CRL was higher than in DP 5690 wild-type and Uzbek CRL. However, in 2015, the concentrations of B, Cu, Fe, and Ni, including Mn and Zn, were higher in both DP 5690 wild-type and Uzbek CRL than in DP 5690 CRL. Positive and negative correlations existed in 2014; however, only positive correlations existed between all nutrients in 2015. This research demonstrated that leaf shape can alter cottonseed micro-nutrients status. Since Uzbek CRL behaved like wild-type, both leaf shape and other factors contributed to the alteration in seed micronutrients, affecting seed nutritional qualities. Therefore, leaf-shape partially contributed to the changes in micro-nutrients in cottonseed. The negative and positive correlations in 2014, and only positive correlations in 2015, were likely due to the heat difference between 2014 and 2015 as 2015 was warmer than in 2014. Significant levels of seed micro-nutrients were shown between these lines, providing opportunities to breeders to select for high seed micro-nutrients in cotton. Also, the current research provides researchers with physiological information on the impact of leaf shape on seed nutritional quality. The leaf shape trait can also be used as a tool to study leaf development, physiological, biochemical, and morphological processes.