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 January 2026 | Viewed by 270

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Xingjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
Interests: cotton breeding; drought stress; growth and development; molecular marker-assisted selection

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Guest Editor
Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
Interests: cotton; drought stress; salt stress; molecular breeding; molecular marker-assisted selection

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

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

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
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
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