Genetics of biochemical attributes regulating morpho-physiology of upland cotton under high temperature conditions

Authors: MAJEED, SAJID - Pakistan University Of Agriculture; CHAUDHARY, MUHAMMAD - Pakistan University Of Agriculture; MUBARIK, MUHAMMAD - Pakistan University Of Agriculture; RANA, IQRAR - Pakistan University Of Agriculture; SHABAN, MUHAMMAD - Pakistan University Of Agriculture; TAN, DANIEL - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; JIA, YINHUA - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; DU, XIONGMING - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; Hinze, Lori; AZHAR, MUHAMMAD - Pakistan University Of Agriculture

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/27/2023
Publication Date: 1/29/2023
Citation: Majeed, S., Chaudhary, M.S., Mubarik, M.T., Rana, I.A., Shaban, M., Tan, D.K., Jia, Y., Du, X., Hinze, L.L., Azhar, M.T. 2023. Genetics of biochemical attributes regulating morpho-physiology of upland cotton under high temperature conditions. Journal of Cotton Research. 7. Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-023-00164-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-023-00164-9

Interpretive Summary: Sustainable cotton production is increasingly affected by changes in climate, specifically higher temperatures. Agronomic, biochemical, and physiological traits of cotton were measured in response to high temperatures. These traits in all tested cotton genotypes were negatively impacted by the addition of heat; however, some genetic types of cotton were less impacted than others. One of the biochemical traits, hydrogen peroxide content, reacted differently than the other traits and is of interest for future research. New information identifying specific traits impacted or not impacted by heat stress will allow cotton breeders to more precisely select for those factors that have the most effect on a cotton plant's response. These results will facilitate further genomic studies to precisely locate genes to enhance our understanding of these responses and assist with breeding cotton for tolerance to increasing temperatures.

Technical Abstract: In the global textile industry, cotton is a strategic natural fiber crop. It has a large impact on the industrial and agricultural economies of many countries. Sustainable cotton production is continuously threatened by the unpredictable changes in climate, specifically high temperatures. One of the main goals of contemporary cotton breeding programs is the production of high-yielding, heat-tolerant cotton cultivars with wide adaptation that can be grown throughout warming climate regions. The current study was designed to explore how heat stress impacts biochemical parameters that control the morpho-physiology of upland cotton. Two heat susceptible (FH-115 and NIAB-Kiran) and two heat tolerant (IUB-13 and GH-Mubarak) accessions were selected for analysis. The results indicated that heat stress negatively impacted every plant attribute analysed. The IUB-13 x FH-115 cross performed best under both control and high temperatures for yield, biochemical, and physiological attributes. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations were positive for all attributes except hydrogen peroxide which was negatively correlated with all other attributes. The insights derived from this study will aid geneticists and breeders in identifying traits for selection to develop cotton cultivars that can tolerate the existing challenging environmental conditions.