Zhiying Ma

Genome sequence of the cultivated cotton Gossypium arboreum

The complex allotetraploid nature of the cotton genome (AADD; 2n = 52) makes genetic, genomic and functional analyses extremely challenging. Here we sequenced and assembled the Gossypium arboreum (AA; 2n = 26) genome, a putative contributor of the A subgenome. A total of 193.6 Gb of clean sequence covering the genome by 112.6-fold was obtained by paired-end sequencing. We further anchored and oriented 90.4% of the assembly on 13 pseudochromosomes and found that 68.5% of the genome is occupied by repetitive DNA sequences. We predicted 41,330 protein-coding genes in G. arboreum. Two whole-genome duplications were shared by G. arboreum and Gossypium raimondii before speciation. Insertions of long terminal repeats in the past 5 million years are responsible for the twofold difference in the sizes of these genomes. Comparative transcriptome studies showed the key role of the nucleotide binding site (NBS)-encoding gene family in resistance to Verticillium dahliae and the involvement of ethylene in the development of cotton fiber cells.

Genome sequence of cultivated Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum TM-1) provides insights into genome evolution

Gossypium hirsutum has proven difficult to sequence owing to its complex allotetraploid (AtDt) genome. Here we produce a draft genome using 181-fold paired-end sequences assisted by fivefold BAC-to-BAC sequences and a high-resolution genetic map. In our assembly 88.5% of the 2,173-Mb scaffolds, which cover 89.6%∼96.7% of the AtDt genome, are anchored and oriented to 26 pseudochromosomes. Comparison of this G. hirsutum AtDt genome with the already sequenced diploid Gossypium arboreum (AA) and Gossypium raimondii (DD) genomes revealed conserved gene order. Repeated sequences account for 67.2% of the AtDt genome, and transposable elements (TEs) originating from Dt seem more active than from At. Reduction in the AtDt genome size occurred after allopolyploidization. The A or At genome may have undergone positive selection for fiber traits. Concerted evolution of different regulatory mechanisms for Cellulose synthase (CesA) and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase1 and 3 (ACO1,3) may be important for enhanced fiber production in G. hirsutum.

Genome-wide association study discovered genetic variation and candidate genes of fibre quality traits in Gossypium hirsutum L.

Summary Genetic improvement of fibre quality is one of the main breeding goals for the upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, but there are difficulties with precise selection of traits. Therefore, it is important to improve the understanding of the genetic basis of phenotypic variation. In this study, we conducted phenotyping and genetic variation analyses of 719 diverse accessions of upland cotton based on multiple environment tests and a recently developed Cotton 63K Illumina Infinium SNP array and performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of fibre quality traits. A total of 10 511 polymorphic SNPs distributed in 26 chromosomes were screened across the cotton germplasms, and forty‐six significant SNPs associated with five fibre quality traits were detected. These significant SNPs were scattered over 15 chromosomes and were involved in 612 unique candidate genes, many related to polysaccharide biosynthesis, signal transduction and protein translocation. Two major haplotypes for fibre length and strength were identified on chromosomes Dt11 and At07. Furthermore, by combining GWAS and transcriptome analysis, we identified 163 and 120 fibre developmental genes related to length and strength, respectively, of which a number of novel genes and 19 promising genes were screened. These results provide new insight into the genetic basis of fibre quality in G. hirsutum and provide candidate SNPs and genes to accelerate the improvement of upland cotton.

Ectopic expression of a novel Ser/Thr protein kinase from cotton (Gossypium barbadense), enhances resistance to Verticillium dahliae infection and oxidative stress in Arabidopsis

Key messageOverexpression of a cotton defense-related geneGbSTK inArabidopsisresulted in enhancing pathogen infection and oxidative stress by activating multiple defense-signaling pathways.AbstractSerine/threonine protein kinase (STK) plays an important role in the plant stress-signaling transduction pathway via phosphorylation. Most studies about STK genes have been conducted with model species. However, their molecular and biochemical characterizations have not been thoroughly investigated in cotton. Here, we focused on one such member, GbSTK. RT-PCR indicated that it is induced not only by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., but also by signaling molecules. Subcellular localization showed that GbSTK is present in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Overexpression of GbSTK in Arabidopsis resulted into the enhanced resistance to V. dahliae. Moreover, Overexpression of GbSTK elevated the expression of PR4, PR5, and EREBP, conferring on transgenic plants enhanced reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity and oxidative stress tolerance. Our results suggest that GbSTK is active in multiple defense-signaling pathways, including those involved in responses to pathogen infection and oxidative stress.

Cotton S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase-mediated spermine biosynthesis is required for salicylic acid- and leucine-correlated signaling in the defense response to Verticillium dahliae.

Main conclusionCotton S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase-, rather than spermine synthase-, mediated spermine biosynthesis is required for salicylic acid- and leucine-correlated signaling in the defense response toVerticillium dahliae.Spermine (Spm) signaling is correlated with plant resistance to the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae. We identified genes for key rate-limiting enzymes in the biosynthesis of Spm, namely S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (GhSAMDC) and Spm synthase (GhSPMS). These were found by screening suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA libraries of cotton (Gossypium) species tolerant to Verticillium wilt. Both were induced early and strongly by inoculation with V. dahliae and application of plant hormones. Silencing of GhSPMS or GhSAMDC in cotton leaves led to a significant accumulation of upstream substrates and, ultimately, enhanced plant susceptibility to Verticillium infection. Exogenous supplementation of Spm to the silenced cotton plants improved resistance. When compared with the wild type (WT), constitutive expression of GhSAMDC in Arabidopsis thaliana was associated with greater Verticillium wilt resistance and higher accumulations of Spm, salicylic acid, and leucine during the infection period. By contrast, transgenic Arabidopsis plants that over-expressed GhSPMS were unexpectedly more susceptible than the WT to V. dahliae and they also had impaired levels of putrescine (Put) and salicylic acid (SA). The susceptibility exhibited in GhSPMS-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants was partially reversed by the exogenous supply of Put or SA. In addition, the responsiveness of those two transgenic Arabidopsis lines to V. dahliae was associated with an alteration in transcripts of genes involved in plant resistance to epidermal penetrations and amino acid signaling. Together, these results suggest that GhSAMDC-, rather than GhSPMS-, mediated spermine biosynthesis contributes to plant resistance against V. dahliae through SA- and leucine-correlated signaling.

Resequencing a core collection of upland cotton identifies genomic variation and loci influencing fiber quality and yield

Upland cotton is the most important natural-fiber crop. The genomic variation of diverse germplasms and alleles underpinning fiber quality and yield should be extensively explored. Here, we resequenced a core collection comprising 419 accessions with 6.55-fold coverage depth and identified approximately 3.66 million SNPs for evaluating the genomic variation. We performed phenotyping across 12 environments and conducted genome-wide association study of 13 fiber-related traits. 7,383 unique SNPs were significantly associated with these traits and were located within or near 4,820 genes; more associated loci were detected for fiber quality than fiber yield, and more fiber genes were detected in the D than the A subgenome. Several previously undescribed causal genes for days to flowering, fiber length, and fiber strength were identified. Phenotypic selection for these traits increased the frequency of elite alleles during domestication and breeding. These results provide targets for molecular selection and genetic manipulation in cotton improvement.The authors resequence a core collection of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) comprising 419 accessions. They analyze genomic variation and conduct a genome-wide association study for 13 fiber quality and yield traits in 12 different environments.

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of GbRVd, a gene in Gossypium barbadense that plays an important role in conferring resistance to Verticillium wilt.

Most of the disease resistance genes already characterized in plants encode nucleotide-binding site-leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) proteins that have key roles in resistance to Verticillium dahliae. Using a cDNA library and RACE protocols, we cloned a coiled-coil (CC)-NBS-LRR-type gene, GbRVd, from a resistant tetraploid cotton species, Gossypium barbadense (RVd=Resistance to V. dahliae). We also applied RT-qPCR and VIGS technologies to analyze how expression of GbRVd was induced upon attack by V. dahliae. Its 2862-bp ORF encodes a predicted protein containing 953 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular weight of 110.17kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.87. GbRVd has three domains - CC, NBS, and LRR - and is most closely related to Gossypium raimondii RVd (88% amino acid identity). Profiling demonstrated that GbRVd is constitutively expressed in all tested tissues, and transcript levels are especially high in the leaves. In plants inoculated with V. dahliae, GbRVd was significantly up-regulated when compared with the control, with expression peaking at 48h post-inoculation. Silencing of GbRVd in cotton through VIGS dramatically down-regulated SA, NO, and H2O2 production, resulting in greater susceptibility to V. dahliae. Taken together, these results suggest that GbRVd has an important role in protecting G. barbadense against infection by V. dahliae.

Molecular Cloning of Three UDP-Glucuronate Decarboxylase Genes That Are Preferentially Expressed In Gossypium Fibers From Elongation to Secondary Cell Wall Synthesis

UDP-xylose (UDP-Xyl) is a nucleotide sugar used as substrate for producing non-cellulose materials, e.g., hemicellulose and pectic polysaccharide, in the fibers of cotton (Gossypium). Its biosynthesis is catalyzed from UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) by UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase (UXS). Here, we first cloned GhUXS1 in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense based on a transcript-derived fragment that originated from our cDNA–AFLP transcriptome profiling in cotton. GhUXS2 and GhUXS3 were also isolated via homology-based cloning. GhUXS nucleotide sequences were identical between the two species, and the deduced amino acid residues had the conserved motif of the UXS family, i.e., GxxGxxG, Ser residues, and YxxxK. GhUXS1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and generated UXS activity that converted UDP-GlcA to UDP-Xyl. Semiquantitative RT-PCR results showed that GhUXSs transcripts were preferentially expressed during fiber development, from elongation through the stage of secondary cell wall synthesis. Although at the same number of days post-anthesis they were more abundant in G. hirsutum, expression was sustained for a longer period in G. barbadense. These different patterns of expression may affect quality and partially explain why the latter species has better fiber strength.

Characterization and Expression Analysis of a Fiber Differentially Expressed Fasciclin-like Arabinogalactan Protein Gene in Sea Island Cotton Fibers

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan (FLA) protein is a cell-wall-associated protein playing crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development, and it was characterized in different plants including Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). In cDNA-AFLP analysis of 25 DPA (days post anthesis) fiber mRNA, two FLA gene-related transcripts exhibit differential expression between Sea Island cotton ( G . barbadense L.) and Upland cotton. Based on the transcript-derived fragment, RACE-PCR and realtime PCR technique, GbFLA5 full-length cDNA was isolated and its expression profiles were characterized in both cotton plant tissues and secondary cell wall (SCW) fibers in this study. The 1154 bp GbFLA5 cDNA contains an ORF of 720 bp, encoding GbFLA5 protein of 239 amino acids residues in length with an estimated molecular mass of 25.41 kDa and isoelectric point of 8.63. The deduced GbFLA5 protein contains an N-terminal signal sequence, two AGP-like domains, a single fasciclin-like domain, and a GPI anchor signal sequence. Phylogenetic analysis shows that GbFLA5 protein is homologous to some known SCW-specific expressed FLAs of plant developing xylem, tension wood and cotton fibers. In the SCW deposition stage from 15 to 45 DPA detected, FLA5 maintains a significantly higher expression level in Sea Island cotton fibers than in Upland cotton fibers. The increasing FLA5 transcript abundance coincided with the SCW deposition process and the expression intensity differences coincided with their fiber strength differences between Sea Island cotton and Upland cotton. These expression profile features of GbFLA5 in cotton fibers revealed its tissue-specific and SCW developmental stage-specific expression characters. Further analysis suggested that GbFLA5 is a crucial SCW-specific protein which may contribute to fiber strength by affecting cellulose synthesis and microfibril deposition orientation.

Cotton ACAULIS5 is involved in stem elongation and the plant defense response to Verticillium dahliae through thermospermine alteration

Key messageOverexpression ofGhACL5, an ACAULIS5 from cotton, inArabidopsisincreased plant height and T-Spm level. Silencing ofGhACL5in cotton exhibited a dwarf phenotype and reduced resistance toVerticillium dahliae.AbstractThe Arabidopsis thaliana gene ACAULIS5 (ACL5), for which inactivation causes a defect in stem elongation, encodes thermospermine (T-Spm) synthase. However, limited information is available about improvement in plant height by the overexpression of ACL5 gene, and the biological functions of ACL5 genes in response to biotic stress. Here, this study reports that constitutive expression of the cotton ACL5 gene (GhACL5) in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly increased plant height and elevated the level of T-Spm. Silencing of that gene in cotton reduced the amount of T-Spm and led to a severe dwarf phenotype. Expression of GhACL5 was induced upon treatment with the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae and plant hormones salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene in resistant cotton plants, but gene silencing in cotton enhanced their susceptibility to V. dahliae infection. Furthermore, T-Spm exposure effectively inhibited V. dahliae growth in vitro. In summary, GhACL5 expression is related to in planta levels of T-Spm and is involved in stem elongation and defense responses against V. dahliae.