Cotton is an important source of natural fibre used in the textile industry and the productivity of the crop is adversely affected by drought stress. High throughput transcriptomic analyses were used to identify genes involved in fibre development. However, not much information is available on cotton genome response in developing fibres under drought stress. In the present study a genome wide transcriptome analysis was carried out to identify differentially expressed genes at various stages of fibre growth under drought stress. Our study identified a number of genes differentially expressed during fibre elongation as compared to other stages. High level up-regulation of genes encoding for enzymes involved in pectin modification and cytoskeleton proteins was observed at fibre initiation stage. While a large number of genes encoding transcription factors (AP2-EREBP, WRKY, NAC and C2H2), osmoprotectants, ion transporters and heat shock proteins and pathways involved in hormone (ABA, ethylene and JA) biosynthesis and signal transduction were up-regulated and genes involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, pentose and glucuronate interconversions and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways were down-regulated during fibre elongation. This study showed that drought has relatively less impact on fibre initiation but has profound effect on fibre elongation by down-regulating important genes involved in cell wall loosening and expansion process. The comprehensive transcriptome analysis under drought stress has provided valuable information on differentially expressed genes and pathways during fibre development that will be useful in developing drought tolerant cotton cultivars without compromising fibre quality.

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SignificanceThe RNA interference (RNAi) discovered in nematodes has contributed to major advances in basic and applied sciences. RNAi-based methods are being developed for controlling pests and disease vectors. RNAi is highly efficient and systemic in coleopteran insects, but not in other insects. The lower efficiency of RNAi in economically important insects and concerns about resistance development are hindering the widespread use of this technology. To address these problems, a RNAi-sensitive Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, and a cell line derived from this insect were used to identify a dsRNA-binding protein, StaufenC, as a major contributor to RNAi and its resistance. Interestingly, StaufenC homologs are present in only coleopteran insects and are essential for efficient RNAi response and its resistance in these insects.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient which affects plant growth and development in deficiency and can be toxic when present in excess. In Arabidopsis thaliana , different families of cation transporters play pivotal roles in Zn homeostasis. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Zn in its deficiency (0 μM; Zn-) and excess (75 μM; Zn++) on various morphophysiological and molecular traits. Primary root length was reduced in Zn- seedlings, whereas there were significant increases in the number and length of lateral roots under Zn- and Zn++ conditions, respectively. Concentration of various macro- and microelements showed variations under different Zn regimes and notable among them was the reduced level of iron (Fe) in Zn++ seedlings compared to Zn+. Certain members of the ZIP family (ZIP4, ZIP9, and ZIP12) showed significant induction in roots and shoots of the Zn- seedlings. Their suppression under Zn++ condition indicated their transcriptional regulation by Zn and their roles in the maintenance of its homeostasis. Zn-deficiency-mediated induction of HMA2 in roots and shoots suggested its role in effluxing Zn into xylem for long-distance transport. Attenuation in the expression of Fe-responsive FRO2 and IRT1 in Zn- roots and their induction in Zn++ roots provided empirical evidence toward the prevalence of a cross talk between Zn and Fe homeostasis. Variable effects of Zn- and Zn++ on the expression of subset of genes involved in the homeostasis of phosphate (Pi), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) further highlighted the prevalence of cross talk between the sensing and signaling cascades of Zn and macronutrients. Further, the inducibility of ZIP4 and ZIP12 in response to cadmium (cd) treatment could be harnessed by tailoring them in homologous or heterologous plant system for removing pollutant toxic heavy metals from the environment.

BackgroundFuzzless-lintless cotton mutants are considered to be the ideal material to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in fibre cell development. Although there are few reports on transcriptome and proteome analyses in cotton at fibre initiation and elongation stages, there is no comprehensive comparative transcriptome analysis of fibre-bearing and fuzzless-lintless cotton ovules covering fibre initiation to secondary cell wall (SCW) synthesis stages. In the present study, a comparative transcriptome analysis was carried out using G. hirsutum L. cv. MCU5 wild-type (WT) and it’s near isogenic fuzzless-lintless (fl) mutant at fibre initiation (0 dpa/days post anthesis), elongation (5, 10 and 15 dpa) and SCW synthesis (20 dpa) stages.ResultsScanning electron microscopy study revealed the delay in the initiation of fibre cells and lack of any further development after 2 dpa in the fl mutant. Transcriptome analysis showed major down regulation of transcripts (90%) at fibre initiation and early elongation (5 dpa) stages in the fl mutant. Majority of the down regulated transcripts at fibre initiation stage in the fl mutant represent calcium and phytohormone mediated signal transduction pathways, biosynthesis of auxin and ethylene and stress responsive transcription factors (TFs). Further, transcripts involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms, mitochondrial electron transport system (mETS) and cell wall loosening and elongation were highly down-regulated at fibre elongation stage (5–15 dpa) in the fl mutant. In addition, cellulose synthases and sucrose synthase C were down-regulated at SCW biosynthesis stage (15–20 dpa). Interestingly, some of the transcripts (~50%) involved in phytohormone signalling and stress responsive transcription factors that were up-regulated at fibre initiation stage in the WT were found to be up-regulated at much later stage (15 dpa) in fl mutant.ConclusionsComparative transcriptome analysis of WT and its near isogenic fl mutant revealed key genes and pathways involved at various stages of fibre development. Our data implicated the significant role of mitochondria mediated energy metabolism during fibre elongation process. The delayed expression of genes involved in phytohormone signalling and stress responsive TFs in the fl mutant suggests the need for a coordinated expression of regulatory mechanisms in fibre cell initiation and differentiation.