Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis (SE) is the key step for genetic improvement of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) through genetic engineering mediated by Agrobacteria, but the molecular mechanisms underlying SE in cotton is still unclear. Here, RNA-Sequencing was used to analyze the genes expressed during SE and their expression dynamics using RNAs isolated from non-embryogenic callus (NEC), embryogenic callus (EC) and somatic embryos (SEs). A total of 101, 670 unigenes were de novo assembled. The genes differentially expressed (DEGs) amongst NEC, EC and SEs were identified, annotated and classified. More DEGs were found between SEs and EC than between EC and NEC. A significant number of DEGs were related to hormone homeostasis, stress and ROS responses, and metabolism of polyamines. To confirm the expression dynamics of selected DEGs involved in various pathways, experiments were set up to investigate the effects of hormones (Indole-3-butytric acid, IBA; Kinetin, KT), polyamines, H₂O₂ and stresses on SE. Our results showed that exogenous application of IBA and KT positively regulated the development of EC and SEs, and that polyamines and H₂O₂ promoted the conversion of EC into SEs. Furthermore, we found that low and moderate stress is beneficial for proliferation of EC and SEs formation. Together, our global analysis of transcriptomic dynamics reveals that hormone homeostasis, polyamines, and stress response synergistically regulating SE in cotton.

ITRAQ based proteomic identified key proteins and provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying somatic embryogenesis in cotton. Somatic e

The objectives of this two-year field experiment were (1) to study the effect of irrigation frequency and irrigation amount on the root characteristics of drip-irrigated spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and (2) to determine the relationship between these root characteristics and aboveground biomass and yield. A split-plot design was used with two wheat cultivars (Xinchun 6 and Xinchun 22). The irrigation treatments consisted of three irrigation intervals (D_1, 13 d; D₂, 10 d; and D₃, 7 d) and three water amounts (W1, 3750 m³/ha; W2, 6000 m³/ha; and W3, 8250 m³/ha). The results showed that root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) were greater at 0–20 cm than at 20–40 cm at flowering. The RLD was greater in D1 and D2 than in D3 in the shallow soil layer and did not differ among the treatments with different irrigation frequencies in deep soil. The RLD at the 0–20 cm depth of W3 was 17.9% greater than that of W2 and 53.8% greater than that of W1, and the RLD trend was opposite at the 20–40 cm depth. The root–shoot ratio was significantly higher in D2 than in the other treatment, whereas the RLD, RWD, leaf Pn and LAI were significantly greater in D3. Leaf Pn and LAI both increased as the irrigation amount increased. Regression analysis showed a natural logarithmic relationship between RWD and aboveground biomass (R² > 0.60, P < 0.05) and binomial relationships of the RWD at 0–20 cm depth (R² = 0.43, P < 0.05) and the RLD at 20–40 cm depth (R² = 0.34, P < 0.05) with grain yield. We found that with the optimum irrigation amount (W2), increasing drip irrigation frequency can increase wheat root length and root weight and aboveground biomass accumulation, thereby improving yield and water use efficiency.

Cotton is one of the most important natural fibers used in the textile industry worldwide. It is important to identify the key factors involved in cotton fiber development. In this study, zinc finger protein8 (GhZFP8) encoding a C₂H₂ transcription factor (TF) was cloned from cotton. qPCR showed that the transcripts of GhZFP8 in cotton were detected in the leaves and fibers at 3, 6, and 30 days post-anthesis (DPA), but not in the roots, stems, or flowers. The overexpression of GhZFP8 increased the trichome number on the siliques, leaves, and inflorescence, but inhibited the growth. The expression of trichome development and cell-elongation-related genes decreased obviously in GhZFP8 overexpressor Arabidopsis. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC) contents were much higher in GhZFP8 overexpressors than that found in the wild type, but the gibberellin (GA) content was lower. The interference of GhZFP8 in cotton caused smaller bolls and shorter fibers than that of the control. The results of DNA affinity purification (DAP)-seq showed that GhZFP8 could bind to the promoter, exon, intron, and intergenic region of the target genes, which are involved in photosynthesis, signal transduction, synthesis of biomass, etc. Our findings implied that GhZFP8 processed multiple biological functions and regulated the development of cotton fiber.

Aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT) channels mediate root malate efflux, a key response for plant survival in acidic, aluminum-toxic soils. The acidophilic genus Vaccinium is horticulturally important, yet its ALMT family has remained uncharacterized. Leveraging two newly available chromosome-level genomes (Vaccinium darrowii and Vaccinium duclouxii), we present the first genus-wide characterization of this family. Across 11 angiosperms we identified 145 non-redundant ALMT loci, partitioned into six major subfamilies. MCScanX synteny revealed compact retention rather than expansion: diploid Vaccinium genomes encode only 8–10 ALMTs each, with at most one intra-species syntenic paralog pair, versus multiple whole-genome-duplication-derived pairs in apple (Malus domestica, 24 loci). Pairwise Ka/Ks was elevated within Vaccinium in three subfamilies, and codon-based PAML branch-site tests detected Bonferroni-significant positive selection on terminal Vaccinium branches in Subfamilies 5 and 4 (2ΔlnL = 40.65 and 12.95), yielding three Bayes Empirical Bayes candidate sites in Subfamily 5 (F249, E410, L411) and two in Subfamily 4 (E249, G399); Subfamily 2 was non-significant and is interpreted as relaxed constraint. All candidate residues map to C-terminal cytoplasmic regulatory regions rather than the transmembrane pore. These findings indicate that the compact Vaccinium ALMT repertoire retained its ancestral channel architecture while accumulating lineage-associated divergence in cytoplasmic regulatory regions; the identified residues are candidates for downstream functional validation rather than demonstrated drivers of acid-soil adaptation.