Working group session:
Functional Genomics
Presentation type:
oral
Authors:
Naoumkina, Marina; Hinchliffe, Doug; Turley, Rick; Bland, John; Fang, David
Presenter:
Naoumkina, Marina
Correspondent:
Naoumkina, Marina
Abstract:
Cotton fiber is the most prevalent natural raw material used in the textile industry. Cotton seed fibers are highly elongated single-celled trichomes that differentiate from the outer epidermis (protoderm) of the ovule. The fiber cells elongate for about 27-39 days past anthesis (DPA) and the secondary cell wall is formed from 17 to 53 DPA depending of the cotton species, cultivar and environment. The length of fiber is ranging from 25 mm to 40 mm. The environment determines whether the fiber properties reach the genetic potential of the cotton cultivar. Good quality of cotton consists of long, fine and strong fiber. The length of the fiber is one of the most important characteristics, which determines the quality of the resulting yarn. One of the major limitations in genetic improvement of fiber is the lack of information at the molecular level about genes controlling fiber development. Competition with synthetic fibers has forced cotton industry to invest heavily in research to develop higher-quality fibers; however one of the major limitations in genetic improvement of fiber is the lack of information at the molecular level about genes controlling fiber development. Elucidating the cellular and molecular basis of fiber elongation beside its importance in basic cell biology could also identify potential targets for genetic manipulation of fiber length.
Genetic mutants are useful tools for studying gene function. The cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber mutation Ligon lintless-2 is controlled by a single dominant gene (Li2) that results in significantly shorter fibers than a wild-type. In this study we identified transcript and metabolic responses associated with fiber elongation using Li2 near isogenic lines. Significant changes in the relative abundance of multiple identified metabolites were observed between near isogenic lines which are the result of genetic reprogramming of primary metabolism in response to Li2 mutation.