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Journal of Integrative Agriculture
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Specific expression of a fusion gene Lc-GhPAP1D results in colored cotton fibers with increased flavonoid and lignin synthesis, but impaired elongation and secondary cell wall deposition

Lingfang Ran1*, Yaohua Li2*, Long Chen1, Tong Mo1, Nian Liu1, Shijia Xu1, Yucheng Su1, Chuannan Wang1, Aimin Liang1, Jianyan Zeng1, Wanting Yu1, Jie Kong2, Yuehua Xiao1, 2#

1 Chongqing Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Improvement, College of Agronomy and Biological Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China 

2 Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement and Smart Production, Institute of Cotton Research, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China

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摘要  

天然彩色棉(NCC)是一种环保且可持续的纺织材料。色彩单一以及产量和品质较差阻碍了天然彩色棉的广泛应用。本研究希望通过在纤维中合成和积累花素,培育出新的彩色棉花。将两个花素调控基因 Lc GhPAP1D的融合基因在纤维次生细胞壁(SCW合成阶段特异表达,得到的转基因纤维在开花后20 -30天呈现出明显的紫红色,成熟时呈红棕色。同时,LcGhPAP1D的表达导致纤维伸长速率降低,次生细胞壁沉积被抑制,最终使成熟纤维强度和长度下降,衣分降低。代谢组学和转录组学分析表明,发育和成熟纤维中整个类黄酮途径显著上调,合成了包括花素、原花素和黄酮醇在内的多种类黄酮物质。研究还发现,在次生细胞壁合成阶段的转基因纤维中,木质素的生物合成和积累显著增加。我们的研究结果为促进棉花纤维中花素的合成与积累提供了一种可行策略,同时也揭示了花色素对纤维着色和发育的可能影响,为未来天然彩色棉的纤维颜色创新奠定了基础。



Abstract  

Naturally colored cotton (NCC) represents a kind of eco-friendly and sustainable textile material. Limited colors and inferior yield and quality are the major obstacles to the wide application of NCCs.  The present work aimed to generate new colored cotton by synthesizing and accumulating anthocyanins in fibers.  Two anthocyanin regulatory genes Lc and GhPAP1D were fused and specifically expressed in fibers of the secondary cell wall (SCW) stage.  The transgenic fibers exhibited pronounced purplish-red color at 20 to 30 DPA (days post anthesis), and reddish-brown color at maturation.  Meanwhile, expressing Lc and GhPAP1D led to reduced elongation rate and impaired SCW deposition in fibers, finally decreased fiber strength and length, and low lint percentage at maturation.  Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses indicated that the whole flavonoid pathway was significantly up-regulated, and multiple flavonoids, including anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and flavonols, were accumulated in developing and mature fibers.  It was also found that lignin biosynthesis and accumulation were significantly increased in fibers of the SCW synthesis stage.  Our results provided a feasible strategy to promote anthocyanin synthesis and accumulation in cotton fibers, and also its side effects on fiber coloration and development, which laid the foundation for future NCC color innovation.

Keywords:  naturally colored cotton (NCC)              Lc              GhPAP1D                    anthocyanins              lignin              fiber quality  
Received: 24 November 2024   Online: 20 February 2025  
Fund: 

This work was supported partially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2003209), the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China (2024D01A76), the Chongqing Graduate Student Research Innovation Project, China (CYB22158) and the Central Government-Guided Special Fund for Local Science and Technology Development Project (ZYYD2024JD19).

About author:  #Correspondence Yuehua Xiao, Orcid-ID: 0000-0002-7062-8181, Tel: 86-23-68250042, Fax: 86-23-68251883, E-mail: xiaoyuehua@swu.edu.cn * These authors attribute equally to this work.

Cite this article: 

Lingfang Ran, Yaohua Li, Long Chen, Tong Mo, Nian Liu, Shijia Xu, Yucheng Su, Chuannan Wang, Aimin Liang, Jianyan Zeng, Wanting Yu, Jie Kong, Yuehua Xiao. 2025. Specific expression of a fusion gene Lc-GhPAP1D results in colored cotton fibers with increased flavonoid and lignin synthesis, but impaired elongation and secondary cell wall deposition. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.044

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