2025 Volume 8 Issue 04 Published: 20 December 2025
  

  • Select all
    |
  • A plant natriuretic peptide GhEG45 plays a significant role in regulating resistance to Verticillium dahliae
    GAO Linying, HU Menghui, YAN Xin, LIU Yang, HOU Yuxia
    2025, 8(04): 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00240-2
    Abstract ( ) PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save
    Background Plant natriuretic peptides (PNPs) are a class of peptide hormones that regulate plant responses to salt stress, water balance, and pathogen attacks. However, the precise underlying role of PNPs in plant defense mechanisms remains poorly understood.
    Results In this study, we investigated the role of the cotton gene GhEG45 in plant response to Verticillium dahliae infection. GhEG45 overexpression in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) enhanced resistance to V. dahliae by increasing the expression levels of salicylic acid (SA)-related defense genes and upregulating antioxidant activities. GhEG45 expression was significantly induced by both V. dahliae infection and exogenous treatments with SA, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and other stress signals, which indicates its potential involvement in modulating plant defense mechanisms via SA signaling, oxidative stress pathways, and cell wall-based defenses. Transcriptomic analysis showed that GhEG45 regulates SA signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. GhEG45 silencing via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) increased susceptibility to V. dahliae, impaired SA signaling, and disrupted ROS regulation.
    Conclusions This study provides evidences that GhEG45 plays a pivotal role in defense against V. dahliae infection in cotton, primarily by regulating SA signaling and ROS metabolism. Although GhEG45 shares some functional characteristics with PNPs, further structural and biochemical studies are needed to comprehensively categorize GhEG45 as a natriuretic peptide. Our findings suggest that GhEG45 enhances cotton resistance to V. dahliae by potentiating defense responses.
  • Bio-energy potential of cotton stalks via thermal technologies: a review
    ELSHAREEF Hussien, YU Yaohong, FU Yongkun, REN Sihao, TURSUNOV Obid, LI Yu, DONG Renjie, ZHOU Yuguang
    2025, 8(04): 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00241-1
    Abstract ( ) PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save
    One of the solutions to the global warming risk and other climate issues is to concentrate on research and development of utilizing biomass as a fossil fuel alternative. The current estimate of cotton residue waste in the world is about 50 million tons. This massive volume of biomass waste should be turned into clean energy to avert burning the stalks in open fields after cotton harvesting. Therefore, harmful emissions such as CO2 will be reduced. This study aims to investigate the published literature to comprehend the bioenergy production from the thermal treatment of cotton stalks, including combustion, pyrolysis, carbonization, torrefaction, liquefaction, and gasification. Furthermore, the future outlook, utilization, and prospective challenges of agricultural biomass for biofuel production are discussed. According to the literature, biochar and bio-oil derived from cotton stalks have high heating values of about 27.5 and 37.2 MJ·kg-1, respectively. These values are double those of cotton stalk raw materials, which make it a good candidate for bioenergy production. This article offers valuable insight into cotton stalk utilization via thermochemical treatment and provides a solid reference for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in this field.
  • Effects of amino acid foliar fertilizer on Cry1Ac protein and yield in Bt cotton during flowering
    GUAN Jiajia, WANG Yu, TENG Zining, SHI Xinyu, HE Run, CHEN Yuan, CHEN Yuan, CHEN Dehua, ZHANG Xiang
    2025, 8(04): 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00242-0
    Abstract ( ) PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save
    Background Achieving a synergistic enhancement in both the yield and insect resistance of Bt cotton holds substantial importance for boosting farmers' income and ecological advantages. This study investigated the impact of amino acid foliar fertilizer (AAF) on the yield and Cry1Ac protein (CP) content, providing valuable insights for enhancing its productivity and insect-resistance capabilities. In 2021, Sikang 1 and Sikang 3 were treated with AAF once (A1) and water (CK) during the peak flowering stage. In 2022, AAF was sprayed one (A1), two (A2), and three (A3) times, respectively, with CK serving as the control.
    Results Compared with the control, the A3 treatment increased seed cotton yield (SCY) by 16.0% and CP by 40.98% at 30 days after flowering. AAF application enhanced soluble protein content (SP) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activity, while suppressing protease and peptidase activities. Concurrently, AAF improved sucrose metabolism through elevated sucrose content and increased activities of sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose conversion enzyme (SCE), which were also positively correlated with yield. A lower ratio of carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) was linked to higher yields and CP content. Path analysis confirmed that SP, GPT, SS, and SCE demonstrated positive effects on CP content and SCY, respectively. Peptidase activity had negative effects on CP and SCY. The C/N ratio had negative effects on SCY and CP, respectively.
    Conclusions Triple foliar application of AAF maintained lower C/N ratios with enhanced carbon metabolism and protein synthesis capacity, thereby simultaneously increasing both Cry1Ac protein content and yield in Bt cotton. These findings provide critical insights for improving both pest resistance and agronomic performance in Bt cotton cultivation.
  • Morphological and physiological mechanisms underlying lodging in cotton stems
    YU Xinghua, ZHOU Mingyan, CHEN Weiming, WANG Yukun, LU Haiyang, WANG Fangyong, DU Mingwei, HAN Huanyong, TIAN Xiaoli, LI Zhaohu
    2025, 8(04): 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00244-y
    Abstract ( ) PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save
    Background Cotton lodging has become increasingly prevalent due to extreme environmental conditions and agronomic practices, severely compromising yield, fiber quality, and mechanical harvesting efficiency. However, research on cotton lodging remains limited, with most studies focusing on individual or isolated indices rather than a comprehensive system. This study systematically compared four lodging-resistant varieties (LR-1, LR-2, LR-3, LR-4) and four lodging varieties (L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4) across multiple indices: morphological traits, boll distribution, internode filling degree, stem density, mechanical strength, anatomical structure, and chemical composition.
    Results The results showed that at the boll-opening stage, lodging-resistant varieties exhibited higher density in the first (increased by 11.6%) and third (increased by 23.5%) basal internodes compared with lodging varieties and significantly greater filling degree in the first (increased by 22.6%), second (increased by 23.1%), and third (increased by 26.1%) basal internodes; significantly higher stem puncture strength (increased by 41.2%) and stem bending resistance (increased by 38.2%); and a significantly lower stem lodging coefficient (19.0% lower in lodging-resistant varieties). Additionally, lodging-resistant varieties showed significantly enhanced anatomical structures, including greater cortex thickness, more mechanical tissue layers, and larger pith cavity, xylem, and phloem areas. Conversely, no significant differences were observed in morphological traits, boll distribution, or chemical composition between the lodging-resistant and lodging types.
    Conclusion Lodging-resistant varieties exhibited thicker cortical tissue and mechanical tissue layers, along with larger xylem area and phloem area in basal internodes. These structural characteristics provide superior support for the filling degree and density of basal internodes, thereby enhancing stem puncture strength and bending resistance, and ultimately improving lodging resistance in cotton. These findings provide a theoretical basis for reducing the occurrence of cotton lodging.
  • Mepiquat chloride-driven regulation in cotton in China: a review of physiological mechanisms, agronomic integration, and future trajectories
    LIU Xinyao, WANG Yao, DU Mingwei, LI Fangjun, TIAN Xiaoli, LI Zhaohu
    2025, 8(04): 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00243-z
    Abstract ( ) PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save
    Crop chemical regulation using plant growth regulators (PGRs) represents a key strategy for achieving high-efficiency cotton production in China. This review synthesizes four decades of research on mepiquat chloride (MC), an inhibitory PGR pivotal to optimizing cotton growth architecture, stress resilience, and yield-quality parameters. We detail MC's stage-specific roles—from root development and flowering acceleration to canopy optimization and assimilate partitioning—and its mechanistic interactions with hormones (e.g., gibberellin suppression, cytokinin enhancement) under biotic/abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we conceptualize MC deployment into three evolutionary tiers: (1) symptom-guided remedial application, (2) systemic growth-stage programming, and (3) integrated management with agronomic practices. These paradigms, supported by field validation across China's cotton belts, offer a roadmap for precision regulation. Future advancements in nano-formulations, digital agriculture, and PGR synergism are discussed to unlock next-generation yield frontiers.
  • Evolutionary divergence and characterization of aquaporins in salt tolerance and fiber development in tetraploid cotton
    LI Bin, LI Huijing, LIU Li, ZHANG Jingrou, ZHAO Nan, GUO Anhui, HUA Jinping
    2025, 8(04): 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00247-9
    Abstract ( ) PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save
    Background Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins belonging to the major intrinsic protein (MIP) family, playing a crucial role in water transport, cell elongation, and stress responses. However, their evolutionary dynamics and functional roles in Gossypium species remain poorly characterized.
    Results In the present study, a total of 55, 54, 54, 103, 106, 108, and 104 AQP genes were found in G. herbaceum, G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense, G. tomentosum, G. mustelinum, and G. darwinii, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into five conserved subfamilies (PIP, TIP, NIP, SIP, and XIP), with 95 genes showing synteny across species and 17 displaying divergence, suggesting subgenome differentiation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that specific GbAQP genes are involved in early salt stress responses and fiber development. Physiological assays demonstrated stronger salt tolerance in tetraploid cottons, particularly G. darwinii, compared with diploids. Co-expression network analysis linked AQPs to abiotic stress and fiber traits, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) confirmed four AQP genes as critical for salt tolerance.
    Conclusion This study provides comprehensive insights into the evolution, expression, and functional roles of AQPs in cotton, identifying key candidate genes for improving salt tolerance and fiber quality in Gossypium species.