Drought effects on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fibre quality and fibre sucrose metabolism during the flowering and boll‐formation period

Abstract

The cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop is an indeterminate species that is most sensitive to drought stress during the flowering and boll‐formation stage of development. To evaluate the effect of water deficit on fibre quality and carbon metabolism at different fruiting branches (FB), multiple controlled experiments were conducted. The cotton cultivar Siza 3 was used under three soil relative water content (SRWC): control (CK, SRWC (75 ± 5) %), moderate drought stress (MDS, SRWC (60 ± 5) %) and severe drought stress (SDS, SRWC (45 ± 5) %) treatment, imposed at the beginning of the flowering of FB6–7. Fibre quality was significantly affected by drought level and fruiting branch location on the plant. Compared to the CK, under MDS and SDS, sucrose content and sucrose synthase (SuSy) activity decreased prior to 24 days post‐anthesis (DPA; the fibre elongation phase), which caused low fibre turgor pressure. This decreased the rate of fibre elongation and final fibre length. Moreover, from 24 to 38 DPA (during fibre thickening), low fibre sucrose content led to insufficient UDP‐glucose (UDPG; uridine diphosphate glucose) for cellulose synthesis. Furthermore, more of the existing UDPG was allocated to the synthesis of callose instead of cellulose, which resulted in lower cellulose accumulation and decreased fibre strength. The magnitude of the drought stress effect on fibre qualities, as well as the formation process, was strongly influenced by fruiting branch position, where differences were most pronounced for fruiting branches further away from the base of the plant.

Quantifying individual and interactive effects of elevated temperature and drought stress on cotton yield and fibre quality

“…The water-deficit treatments were carried out based on the methods of previous experiments (Gao et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2016).…”

“…But in the current study, we will mainly focus on the interactions and co‐effects of both stresses in cotton yield and fibre quality formation period. The water‐deficit treatments were carried out based on the methods of previous experiments (Gao et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2016). Regarding temperature, the optimal temperature for boll retention is approximately 27 to 28°C in previous reports, while fruit retention decreases at 32 to 33°C temperature conditions (Reddy, Hodges, et al., 1992; Reddy et al., 1992).…”

Fine root and root hair morphology of cotton under drought stress revealed with RhizoPot

“…Experiments were conducted with nine replicates. And two levels of soil relative water contents (SRWC) as follows: CK (well-watered, set as the control group): (75 ± 5) % SRWC, DS (drought stress): (45 ± 5) % (Gao et al, 2020;Zhao, Wang, Hu, & Zhou, 2019).…”

Mitochondria: Key Organelles Accelerating Cell Wall Material Accumulation in Juice Sacs of Pummelo (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck) Fruits during Postharvest Storage

“…Invertase and sucrose synthase are two distinct enzymes that catalyze the conversion of sucrose into UDP-glucose. UDPglucose is a direct substance for cellulose synthesis [33]. Invertase activity is positively correlated with UDP-glucose and cellulose contents [34][35][36].…”