Fourier transform infrared spectral features of plant biomass components during cotton organ development and their biological implications

Authors: He, Zhongqi; Liu, Yongliang; Kim, Hee-Jin; Tewolde, Haile; ZHANG, HAILIN - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2022
Publication Date: 4/1/2022
Citation: He, Z., Liu, Y., Kim, H.J., Tewolde, H., Zhang, H. 2022. Fourier transform infrared spectral features of plant biomass components during cotton organ development and their biological implications. Journal of Cotton Research. 5:11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-022-00117-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-022-00117-8

Interpretive Summary: The majority of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) investigations of cotton are focused on the fiber tissue for studying biological mechanisms related to fiber development and maturity. In this work, various cotton tissues and organs at two different developmental stages including reproductive (i.e., mid season) and maturation (i.e., late season just before defoliation for harvesting readiness) stages were collected, and their detail FT-IR spectral features were analyzed. The resulting data showed four FT-IR bands positively and exclusively correlated to the major chemical components (i.e., protein, cellulose, and hemicellulose) of these cotton tissue samples. This observation indicated that FT-IR technique could be an effective tool for physiological, biochemical, and morphological research related to cotton plant biology and growth development.

Technical Abstract: Attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has been widely used to characterize agricultural biomass materials. In this work, whole cotton plant samples were collected at reproductive stage for flower, boll, and fiber development and maturation stage. Subsequently they were separated into roots, main stems, branches, petioles, leaf blades, and reproductive parts or burs, peduncles, fiber, and seeds. The FT-IR spectra of these organs were analyzed and compared with the focus on the lower wavenumber fingerprinting range. Six outstanding FT-IR bands at 1730, 1620, 1525, 1235, 1050 and 895 cm-1 represented the major C=O stretching, protein Amide I, Amide II, the O-H/N-H deformation, the total C-O-C stretching and the ß-glycosidic linkage in celluloses, respectively, and impacted differently between these organs with the two growth stages. Furthermore, the band intensity at 1620, 1525, 1235, and 1050 cm-1 were exclusively and significantly correlated to the levels of protein (Amide I bond), protein (Amide II bond), cellulose, and hemicellulose, respectively whereas the band at 1730 cm-1 was negatively correlated with ash content. These observations indicated the capability of ATR FT-IR spectroscopy for monitoring changes, transportation, and accumulation of the major chemical components in these tissues over the cotton growth period. In other words, this spectral technology could be an effective tool for physiological, biochemical, and morphological research related to cotton biology and development.