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Genetic Studies on Cotton Stress Resistance, Quality Traits, and Drought...
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Genetic Studies on Cotton Stress Resistance, Quality Traits, and Drought Response Mechanisms

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 1709

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xueyuan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Xingjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
Interests: cotton breeding; drought stress; growth and development; molecular marker-assisted selection
Dr. Juyun Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
Interests: cotton; drought stress; salt stress; molecular breeding; molecular marker-assisted selection
Prof. Dr. Jie Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
Interests: cotton genetics; genomics; molecular breeding; genetic improvement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fenglei Sun

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Cotton Research Institute of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
Interests: cotton; cotton genetics; genomics; drought stress; molecular marker-assisted selection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growth and development of cotton are significantly affected by extreme climate change and uneven precipitation distribution. Cotton adapts and responds to environmental changes and extreme weather by adjusting its physiological activities and ecological characteristics. Understanding how cotton responds to short- and long-term environmental changes can enhance our in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of plant stress response. The superior characteristics of cotton are enhanced by using techniques such as genome-wide association analysis, multi-omics analysis, molecular marker-assisted selection, genome editing, and transgenic technology. In addition, this field is dedicated to revealing the complex mechanisms that control the growth and development of cotton, as well as identifying genes that are crucial to key traits, such as plant morphology, yield, and cotton quality. Submissions that address these or related topics are welcome.

Dr. Xueyuan Li
Dr. Juyun Zheng
Prof. Dr. Jie Sun
Guest Editors

Dr. Fenglei Sun
Co-Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cotton
  • drought stress
  • growth and development
  • gene editing
  • molecular marker-assisted selection

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3888 KB  
Article
Functional Analysis of a Cotton TPX2-like Gene, GbTPX2-35, in Regulating Fiber Cell Development and Strength in Gossypium barbadense
by Yajie Duan, Qianqian Han, Ruihong Zeng, Yongsheng Cai, Xiaowei Niu, Yuhong Wen and Xiaoju Liu
Genes 2026, 17(4), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17040395 - 30 Mar 2026
Viewed by 254
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Among cotton species, Gossypium barbadense produces the strongest fibers. Examining cytoskeletal dynamics in single epidermal cells of G. barbadense ovules offers a direct approach to investigating fiber quality. Microtubules are major cytoskeletal components whose organization and dynamics are precisely regulated by microtubule-associated [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Among cotton species, Gossypium barbadense produces the strongest fibers. Examining cytoskeletal dynamics in single epidermal cells of G. barbadense ovules offers a direct approach to investigating fiber quality. Microtubules are major cytoskeletal components whose organization and dynamics are precisely regulated by microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). However, information on the TPX2 family remains limited, and characterizing its features in G. barbadense is critical to clarifying the role of TPX2 family members in fiber strength formation. Methods: Using the Arabidopsis thaliana TPX2 sequence as a reference, 40, 49, 26, and 26 TPX2 family members were identified in the genomes of G. barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium arboreum, and Gossypium raimondii, respectively. We further analyzed the expression pattern of GbTPX2-35 and validated its function via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Results: In G. barbadense, GbTPX2-35 (Gbar_D11G59825.1) was significantly upregulated in fiber samples of the parental lines at 25 days post-anthesis, and this expression pattern was further validated in G. barbadense lines with extreme fiber strength phenotypes. Next, VIGS-mediated silencing of GbTPX2-35 downregulated the transcript levels of cellulose synthase and microtubule-related protein genes, a finding further validated by mature fiber strength phenotypic data. Conclusions: This study preliminarily validated a pathway in which GbTPX2-35 regulates fiber strength by coordinating cellulose biosynthesis with microtubule cytoskeleton dynamics, providing valuable candidate genes and theoretical support for molecular breeding of high-strength cotton fibers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Studies on Cotton Stress Resistance, Quality Traits, and Drought Response Mechanisms)
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14 pages, 2135 KB  
Article
Casparian Strip Fortification as a Defense Mechanism to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Race 4 Infection in a Highly Resistant Gossypium barbadense Cultivar
by Stephen Parris, Sonika Kumar, Zhigang Li, Jim Olvey, Mike Olvey, Don C. Jones and Christopher A. Saski
Genes 2025, 16(10), 1158; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16101158 - 29 Sep 2025
Viewed by 943
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Fusarium wilt of cotton, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV), is a destructive vascular disease that severely impacts cotton production. Among its variants, race 4 (FOV4) is especially aggressive, leading to early season stand losses and yield reductions. While resistant [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Fusarium wilt of cotton, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV), is a destructive vascular disease that severely impacts cotton production. Among its variants, race 4 (FOV4) is especially aggressive, leading to early season stand losses and yield reductions. While resistant cultivars of Gossypium barbadense (pima cotton) have been developed, the molecular basis of this resistance remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize transcriptomic responses associated with FOV4 resistance in pima cotton. Methods: We conducted an in vitro infection assay using two G. barbadense cultivars with contrasting phenotypes: the highly resistant ‘DP348RF’ and the highly susceptible ‘GB1031’. Root tissues were sampled at multiple stages of infection, and RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways contributing to resistance. Results: Resistant plants ‘DP348RF’ showed strong induction of genes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, chitinase activity, and lignification compared to the susceptible cultivar. Notably, genes involved in the biosynthesis and reinforcement of the Casparian strip, a critical biochemical barrier limiting pathogen penetration into vascular tissues, were uniquely and significantly upregulated in resistant roots. These transcriptional responses suggest that fortification of cell wall barriers and enhanced antimicrobial defenses contribute to effective restriction of FOV4 colonization. Conclusions: Our findings identify a distinct molecular signature of resistance to FOV4 in pima cotton, with Casparian strip reinforcement emerging as a potential mechanism limiting vascular infection. These insights provide a foundation for breeding strategies aimed at improving Fusarium wilt resistance in cotton. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Studies on Cotton Stress Resistance, Quality Traits, and Drought Response Mechanisms)
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