Search Results (78)

Cottonseed is an important resource for edible oil and protein. Here, we evaluated cottonseed oil, protein, and gossypol contents using traditional chemical methods and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in diverse upland cotton (n = 456) and sea island cotton (n = 205) germplasm. In upland cotton, oil content averaged 21.23 ± 3.98% (12.74–43.56%), protein averaged 23.63 ± 4.63% (15.53–49.79%), and gossypol averaged 1.47 ± 0.21 mg/g (0.06–2.07). Correlation analysis showed a significant negative association between oil and protein (r = −0.125, p < 0.01; confirmed by NIRS: r = −0.171, p < 0.01), a significant negative association between protein and gossypol (r = −0.375, p < 0.01), and a significant positive association between oil and gossypol (r = 0.409, p < 0.01). In sea island cotton, oil, protein, and gossypol contents averaged 24.82 ± 6.15% (14.64–41.43%), 25.75 ± 2.04% (18.84–39.00%), and 1.60 ± 0.15 mg/g (1.22–2.08), respectively. The oil–protein association was strongly negative by NIRS (r = −0.744, p < 0.01), whereas correlations with gossypol were weak and not significant by the traditional method. After screening and evaluation, high oil and protein varieties were identified in upland cotton (n = 15) and sea island cotton (n = 6). Fourteen extreme-oil upland materials were further used to examine flowering-date effects on oil accumulation and physiological indicators, showing rapid oil accumulation and a flowering-date-dependent maximum. Finally, qRT-PCR analysis of lipid-metabolism-related candidate genes showed that seven genes were expressed significantly higher in high-oil than in low-oil materials (p < 0.05), peaking at the late stage of oil accumulation. GhDGAT1 and GhDGAT2 showed positive regulatory effects on oil accumulation, whereas GhFAD3 and GhKCR2 showed negative regulatory effects. Collectively, these findings provide compositional benchmarks, clarify trait relationships, and identify candidate genes useful for breeding cotton cultivars with improved seed oil/protein traits. Full article

Palmitic acid (PA) is the most common dietary saturated fatty acid, and is abundant in palm and cottonseed oil, butter, and cheese, whereas oleic acid (OA) is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in olive oil. The differences in the cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of PA and OA across endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from different vascular beds have not been investigated in detail. Here, we incubated primary human aortic valve (HAVEC), saphenous vein (HSaVEC), internal thoracic artery (HITAEC), and microvascular (HMVEC) ECs with albumin-bound PA or OA for 24 h and found that PA induced a considerable cytotoxic response, accompanied by an elevated expression of the genes encoding cell adhesion molecules (VCAM1, ICAM1, SELE, and SELP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (MIF, PTX3, CSF2, CSF3, IL1A, IL6, CCL2, CCL5, CCL20, CSF2, CSF3, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL8, and CXCL10), followed by an increased release of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. HAVEC and HSaVEC were more susceptible to PA, whereas OA had mild-to-moderate cytotoxic effects on HAVEC and HMVEC but did not induce generalized EC activation. Compared with other EC types, HITAEC was the most resistant to PA and OA treatment. Collectively, these results indicate considerable heterogeneity across the ECs of distinct origin in response to PA. Full article

Cottonseed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), making it suitable for use as edible oil. Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play a major role in the conversion of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In total, 39 GhFAD genes were detected in upland cotton and divided into five groups in the present study. Gene structure and domain analysis showed that GhFAD members within each group were highly conserved. Cis-elements associated with environmental stress and hormone responses were identified in GhFAD promoters. The predicted transcription factors and miRNAs targeting these genes suggest extensive roles for GhFADs in diverse stress conditions. Analysis of expression profiles indicated that GhFAD genes participate extensively in developmental processes and stress adaptation in cotton. Among these, the concurrent high expression of GhFAD2-1 and low expression of GhFAD3 are consistent with the typical fatty acid profile of cottonseed oil. GhFAD3-2 and GhFAD3-1 exhibit a complementary expression profiles, suggesting they may operate in a relay manner during fiber development. Additionally, experimental evidence established that GhFAD2-3 is involved in the cold stress response. This research delivers a thorough characterization of the GhFAD genes in upland cotton, thereby establishing a solid groundwork for future functional genomics studies. Full article

As a key medium in industry, lubricating oil plays a significant role in reducing friction, cooling sealing and transmitting power, which directly affects equipment life and energy efficiency. Traditional mineral-based lubricating oils rely on non-renewable petroleum, and they have high energy consumption and poor biodegradability (<30%) during the production process. They can easily cause lasting pollution after leakage and have a high carbon footprint throughout their life cycle, making it difficult to meet the “double carbon” goal. Bio-based lubricating oil uses renewable resources such as cottonseed oil and waste grease as raw materials. This material offers three significant advantages: sustainable sourcing, environmental friendliness, and adjustable performance. Its biodegradation rate is over 80%, and it reduces carbon emissions by 50–90%. Moreover, we can control its properties through processes like hydrogenation, isomerization, and transesterification to ensure it complies with ISO 6743 and other relevant standards. However, natural oils and fats have regular molecular structure, high freezing point (usually > −10 °C), and easy precipitation of wax crystals at low temperature, which restricts their industrial application. In recent years, a series of modification studies have been carried out around “pour point depression-viscosity preservation”. Catalytic isomerization can reduce the freezing point to −42 °C while maintaining a high viscosity index. Epoxidation–ring-opening modification introduces branched chains or ether bonds, taking into account low-temperature fluidity and oxidation stability. The deep dewaxing-isomerization dewaxing process improves the base oil yield, and the freezing point drops by 30 °C. The synergistic addition of polymer pour point depressant and nanomaterials can further reduce the freezing point by 10–15 °C and improve the cryogenic pumping performance. The life cycle assessment shows that using the “zero crude oil” route of waste oil and green hydrogen, the carbon emission per ton of lubricating oil is only 0.32 t, and the cost gradually approaches the level of imported synthetic esters. In the future, with the help of biorefinery integration, enzyme catalytic modification and AI molecular design, it is expected to realize high-performance, low-cost, near-zero-carbon lubrication solutions and promote the green transformation of industry. Full article

Upland cotton is an important fiber and oilseed crop. Cottonseed produces approximately 15% of farm gate value in cotton production. Therefore, improvement of cottonseed oil can significantly increase the economic return of cotton production with the same land use and investment. However, genetic variation in cottonseed oil is highly limited within upland cotton, limiting the genetic gain in cottonseed oil. Introgression breeding can alleviate this bottleneck effect by introducing desirable genes from Pima to Upland cotton. The objective of this study was to evaluate introgression lines (ILs) for better cottonseed oil. A population of 590 ILs, developed from a cross between Acala 1517-99 and Pima, was grown in Las Cruces, NM in 2022 which was used for the fatty acid methyl ester analysis through gas chromatography. There was a high level of variation in cottonseed oil and fatty acids. In the biplot, cottonseed oil was positively correlated with oleic acid and negatively related with palmitic acid. The cluster analysis identified a group of ILs with the highest average oil and oleic acid. As a result, ILs with better oil profiles were identified for further testing and analysis toward the development of high-quality cotton varieties with higher and better oil. Full article

In this study, cottonseed oil biodiesel and waste lard biodiesel were produced through a transesterification process and blended with conventional diesel at different ratios (B10 and B20). The performance and emission characteristics of these fuels were systematically evaluated in a single-cylinder, four-stroke, water-cooled diesel engine operating at speeds of 1000–1800 rpm under a constant 50% load. The physicochemical properties of the fuels were analyzed, and engine parameters including brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were measured. The results demonstrated that, compared with diesel, biodiesel blends significantly reduced CO, HC, and CO₂ emissions. At 1800 rpm, the LB20 blend showed reductions of 31.03% in CO, 47.06% in HCs, and 19.14% in CO₂ relative to diesel. These reductions are mainly attributed to the higher oxygen content and lower hydrogen-to-carbon ratio of biodiesel, which promote more complete combustion. However, all biodiesel blends exhibited higher NOx emissions than diesel, with the increase being more pronounced at higher blend ratios. At 1800 rpm, the LB20 blend recorded the highest NOx emissions, which were 20.63% higher than those of diesel under the same condition. In terms of performance, biodiesel blends showed higher BSFC and lower BTE compared with diesel, mainly due to their lower calorific value and higher viscosity. The lowest BTE and the highest BSFC were both observed with the LB20 blend, at 22.64% and 358.11 g/kWh, respectively. Full article

Tenobe somen (hand-stretched) noodles are distinguished by their exceptional quality, which is achieved through a unique production method and a characteristic long-term aging process. This aging is closely associated with the oiling and “yaku” procedures. “Yaku” refers to the process of storing dried tenobe somen noodles in a warehouse during the high-temperature and high-humidity rainy season (typically in summer) for a period of time. This process is not merely about storage; rather, it involves complex physicochemical changes in the internal components of the noodles triggered by environmental factors, ultimately endowing the noodles with superior quality. This review systematically examines the critical factors influencing tenobe somen production, including oil selection for anti-adhesion treatment, the evolution of fundamental physicochemical properties, cooking performance, and sensory quality during storage. Particular emphasis is placed on the transformations of lipids, proteins, and starch components, as well as their intermolecular interactions. Recent findings demonstrate that cottonseed oil is especially effective in preventing strand adhesion during processing and contributes substantially to quality enhancement throughout storage. The optimization of noodle quality during aging is largely driven by chemical composition changes and synergistic molecular interactions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the multidimensional mechanisms underlying quality improvement in tenobe somen noodles. The insights gained offer valuable theoretical support for optimizing lipid selection, regulating storage protocols, and promoting the modernization of traditional pasta production technologies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cottonseed oil (CSO) is a dietary oil especially high in the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), linoleic acid (FA 18:2), which is a precursor for many pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Curiously, diets rich in CSO have not been shown to cause increases in inflammatory markers or other negative health outcomes in humans. To rigorously test this, we have compared the health impact of a diet rich in CSO to olive oil (OO), which is generally considered to be a healthy oil. Methods: Specifically, this study examines circulating metabolite and lipid profiles during a 4-week dietary intervention with CSO or OO on 47 healthy adults. Untargeted metabolomics, targeted bulk lipidomics, and targeted lipid mediator analyses were conducted on fasting plasma samples taken pre- and post-dietary intervention. Results: A high degree of similarity was observed in the global metabolomic profiles of CSO and OO participants, indicating that CSO may elicit metabolic responses comparable to those of OO, potentially supporting similar effects on metabolic health markers. Targeted bulk lipidomics revealed changes in acyl chain composition reflective of the dominant fatty acid consumed—either 18:2 in CSO or 18:1 in OO. Immunoregulatory lipids 15-deoxy-PGJ2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2a) were both higher in abundance in high-CSO diets, demonstrating differential effects of CSO and OO on immunoregulatory compounds. A correlative network analysis revealed two clusters arising from the dietary intervention as drivers of the dietary and immune responses. Conclusions: This study shows that CSO and OO differentially impact the circulating lipidome and immunoregulatory compounds in healthy adults. Full article

Cottonseeds, rich in high-quality protein and fatty acids, represent a vital plant-derived feedstuff and edible oil resource. To systematically investigate genetic variation patterns in nutritional quality and screen superior germplasm, this study analyzed 26 nutritional quality traits and 8 fiber traits across 259 upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) accessions using multivariate statistical approaches. Results revealed significant genetic diversity in cottonseed nutritional profiles, with coefficients of variation ranging from 3.42% to 26.37%. Moreover, with advancements in breeding periods, the contents of protein, amino acids, and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) increased, while oil content and C16:0 levels decreased. Correlation analyses identified significant positive associations (p < 0.05) between proteins, amino acids, UFAs, and most fiber traits, except for seed index (SI), fiber micronaire (FM), and fiber elongation (FE). Through a principal component analysis–fuzzy membership function (PCA-FMF) model, 13 elite accessions (F > 0.75) with high protein content, high UFA proportion, and excellent fiber quality were identified. These findings provide both data-driven foundations and practical germplasm resources for value-added utilization of cottonseed and coordinated breeding for dual-quality traits of nutrition and fiber. Full article

Background: The regulation of oil and protein contents in cottonseed is governed by a complex genetic network. Gaining insight into the mechanisms controlling these traits is necessary for dissecting the formation patterns of cottonseed quality. Method: In this study, Xinluzhong 37 (P₁) and Xinluzhong 51 (P₂) were selected as parental lines for two reciprocal crosses: P₁ × P₂ (F₁) and its reciprocal P₂ × P₁ (F₁′). Each F1 was selfed and backcrossed to both parents to generate the F₂ (F₂′), B₁ (B₁′), and B₂ (B₂′) generations. To assess nutritional traits in hairy (non-delinted) and lint-free (delinted) seeds, two indicators, oil content and protein content, were measured in both seed types. Joint segregation analysis was employed to analyze the inheritance of these traits, based on a major gene plus polygene model. Results: In the orthogonal crosses, the CVs for the four nutritional traits ranged at 2.710–7.879%, 4.086–11.070%, 2.724–6.727%, and 3.717–9.602%. In the reciprocal crosses, CVs ranged at 2.710–8.053%, 4.086–9.572%, 2.724–6.376%, and 3.717–8.845%. All traits exhibited normal or skewed-normal distributions. For oil content in undelinted/delinted seeds, polygenic heritabilities in the orthogonal cross were 0.64/0.52, and 0.40/0.36 in the reciprocal cross. For protein content, major-gene heritabilities in the orthogonal cross were 0.79 (undelinted) and 0.78 (delinted), while those in the reciprocal cross were both 0.62. Conclusions: Oil and protein contents in cottonseeds are quantitative traits. In both orthogonal and reciprocal crosses, oil content is controlled by multiple genes and is shaped by additive, dominance, and epistatic effects. Protein content, in contrast, is largely controlled by two major genes along with minor genes. In the P₁ × P₂ combination, major genes act through additive, dominance, and epistatic effects, while in the P₂ × P₁ combination, their effects are additive only. In both combinations, minor genes contribute through additive and dominance effects. In summary, the oil content in cottonseed is mainly regulated by polygenes, whereas the protein content is primarily determined by major genes. These genetic features in both linted, and lint-free seeds may offer a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding aimed at improving cottonseed oil and protein quality. Full article

Fluridone is a pyrrolidone soil-sealing herbicide that has been widely used in cotton fields in Xinjiang in recent years. The purpose of this study was to establish a method for determining fluridone residues in cotton fields and to perform residue digestion tests, final residue analysis, and dietary risk assessment. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile, purified with primary secondary amine (PSA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that in a certain concentration range, the concentration and peak area of fluridone showed a good linear relationship (R² > 0.99), with limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of 0.00090–0.00108 mg·kg⁻¹ and 0.0030–0.0033 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values of fluridone were 0.46% to 4.57% at the spiked level of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The average daily recovery rate of fluridone was 85.08% to 95.07%. The residual levels of fluridone in cottonseed oil were below the safety threshold, indicating no significant dietary risk to consumers. Full article

Antioxidant feed additives, such as cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), rich in phenolic compounds, have gained attention for improving animal production and meat quality. The study evaluated the dietary effects of blending CNSL (0.5%) with different vegetable oils (1.5%) varying in unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) profiles on the meat quality and fatty acid composition of muttons. Forty Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred rams (24.44 ± 1.5 kg) were allocated to five treatments for 70 days: CNSL combined with canola (MUFA-rich) compared to corn, soybean, sunflower, or cottonseed oils (PUFA-rich). The CNSL + canola blend improved meat quality, showing higher water-holding capacity and tenderness and lower cooking loss than CNSL + PUFA-rich oils (p < 0.05). Meat yellowness (b*) increased with CNSL + soybean or cottonseed blend. Meat proximate composition was unaffected (p > 0.05). Minor variations in specific fatty acids were observed, including higher C14:0 and C16:1 in canola and cottonseed + CNSL blend groups and greater EPA (C20:5 n–3) with soybean oil + CNSL blend (p < 0.05). The ∑n–6:∑n–3 ratio was highest with cottonseed and lowest with soybean oil (p < 0.05). Overall, combining CNSL with MUFA-rich oils, particularly canola, compared to PUFA oils, enhances meat quality while supporting the sustainable use of CNSL in ram diets. Full article

h-BN spherical nanoparticles, known as white graphene, have good anti-wear properties, long service life, chemical inertness, and stability, which provide superior lubricating performance as a solid additive item to nanofluids. However, the poor dispersion stability of h-BN nanoparticles in nanofluids is a bottleneck that restricts their application. Currently, to prepare h-BN nanofluids with good dispersion stability, a cold plasma (CP) modification of h-BN nanoparticles is proposed in this study. In this research, h-BN nanofluid with added surfactant (SNL), CP-modified h-BN nanofluid with N₂ as the working gas (CP(N₂)NL), and CP-modified h-BN nanofluid with O₂ as the working gas (CP(O₂)NL) were prepared, separately. The mechanism of the dispersion stability of CP-modified h-BN nanofluid was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the performance of CP-modified nanofluid was analyzed based on static observation of nanofluid, kinematic viscosity, and heat transfer properties. Finally, friction and wear experiments were conducted to further analyze the tribological performance of h-BN nanofluids based on the coefficient of friction, 3D surface morphology, surface roughness (Sa), scratches, and micro-morphology. The results show that CP-modified h-BN nanofluid has excellent dispersed suspension stability and can be statically placed for more than 336 h. The CP-modified h-BN nanofluid showed stable friction-reducing, anti-wear, and heat transfer performance, in which the coefficient of friction of h-BN nanofluid was about 0.66 before and after 24 h of settling. The Sa value of the sample was reduced by 31.6–49.2% in comparison with pure cottonseed oil (CO). Full article

Bio-based polyurethane (PU) is synthesized either via the prepolymerization or addition polymerization of bio-based polyols and isocyanates. PU synthesized from vegetable-oil-based polyols has excellent properties for various application needs. Bio-based PU coatings from renewable vegetable oil show good degradability in soil while controlling the nutrient release process. Castor oil, soybean oil, palm oil, olive oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, and recycled oil have been explored in the study of bio-based PU coatings for controlled nutrient release. Castor oil as a natural polyol has been widely studied. Generally, the epoxidation ring opening method is preferred to prepare bio-based polyols. Almost all of these studies used a drum coating machine to complete the coating process. To obtain better controlled release performance, a vegetable-oil-based PU (VPU) coating was modified by increasing the degrees of crosslinking and hydrophobicity and improving the coating uniformity. The nutrient release duration of the modified castor-oil-based PU-coated fertilizer reached 200 days. VPU-coated fertilizers, in contrast to traditional fertilizers, effectively reduce the detrimental impact on the environment. Although the preparation of VPU-coated fertilizers is still at the laboratory scale, application research has been carried out in field crops. Full article

Cottonseed is a valuable source of high-quality proteins and oils. Defatted cottonseed meal (DCSM), a by-product of cottonseed oil extraction, holds significant potential as a sustainable protein resource. This review outlines the chemical composition, structural features, and unique properties of cottonseed, with a focus on its inherent antinutritional factors, such as gossypol. Strategies for enhancing the utilization of DCSM as a protein source are systematically evaluated, including physical, chemical, and biological methods used to eliminate or reduce antinutritional components. Among these, microbial fermentation, particularly solid-state fermentation, is highlighted as a promising, eco-friendly approach for detoxification and nutritional improvement. This review further discusses critical factors influencing the removal of anti-nutritional compounds, such as pretreatment methods, fermentation parameters, and microbial strains. The efficacy of probiotic strains (e.g., Bacillus and yeasts) in enhancing the protein digestibility, amino acid profiles, and functional properties of DCSM is discussed. Additionally, recent advances in the application of fermented cottonseed protein in foods (e.g., animal feed, functional peptides, and food additives) and non-food sectors (e.g., biofuels and bioplastic) are explored. The integration of probiotic-driven fermentation processes is proposed as a strategy to exploit the full nutritional and economic potential of DCSM, paving the way for its broader and sustainable use in foods and non-food applications. Full article