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Flooding stress declines oxygen availability in roots that induce hypoxia stress in plants, thereby severely decline plant growth. Study was undertaken to clarify how potassium supplementation alleviates flooding stress in cotton plants. We applied potassium (K) fertilizer in pot soils at different levels; K0 = Control (No K), K1 = 30 mg kg−1, K2 = 60 mg kg−1 and K3 = 80 mg kg−1 with different duration of flooding stress s. D0 = Normal irrigation (0 day flooding), D1 = three days flooding, D2 = six days flooding, D3 = nine days flooding, D4 = twelve days flooding. The K supplementation (80 mg kg−1) in soil with 3-day flooding stress showed better combination for mitigating flooding stress. The supplementation of K3 dose (80 mg kg−1) alleviated flooding against 3-day initial flooding (D1) of which physiological traits showed better response compared to prolonged flooding stress (12-day flooding stress). The result suggests that K-involving flooding stress mitigation strategy in cotton plants was active for initial flooding stress (3-day flooding stress), while it was not fully active for pronged (upto 12-day flooding stress). Furthermore, we found K significantly improved antioxidant enzymes, photosynthetic performance, yield attributes, and lint quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth, productivity, and fiber quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a vital fiber-producing cash crop, are severely affected under drought conditions. Seed priming has a proven role in enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress, including drought. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of seed priming with KNO3 on cotton productivity and fiber quality under drought stress. A germination experiment was established under laboratory conditions with five treatments of seed priming (non-primed or control treatment, hydropriming, and priming with 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g KNO3 L−1). Another experiment under polyhouse conditions based on the same seed priming treatments was conducted under three levels of soil water contents (field capacity [FC] 100%: FC100, 75%: FC75, and 50%: FC50). The results obtained showed that there was a clear reduction in the different parameters tested at FC50 in comparison to FC100 (39–54%, 32–44%, 6–12%, and 7–12% reduction for boll number per plant, seed cotton yield, fiber strength, and leaf relative water content, respectively, across all priming treatments). Seed priming with KNO3 at 5 g L−1 effectively alleviated the detrimental effects originated from drought stress and caused 61–73%, 13–16%, and 16–23% increase in seed cotton yield, fiber length, and fiber strength, respectively, across soil moisture levels when compared with the control treatment. The same KNO3 dose caused an increase of 78% in water productivity in comparison to the control plants at FC50. Priming cotton seeds with 5 g KNO3 L−1 holds promise to obtain synchronized germination, enhance fiber quality, and increase yield, especially under water-limited conditions, thereby promoting economic viability and environmental sustainability. Additionally, this practice enhances water productivity, leading to significant water savings and reduced irrigation costs for cotton farmers. This method could be used as potential technology in advancing sustainable agriculture in water-constraint conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The elucidation of genetic architecture and molecular regulatory networks underlying complex traits remains a significant challenge in life science, largely due to the substantial background effects that arise from epistasis and gene–environment interactions. The chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) is an ideal material for genetic and molecular dissection of complex traits due to its near‐isogenic properties; yet a comprehensive analysis, from the basic identification of substitution segments to advanced regulatory network, is still insufficient. Here, we developed two cotton CSSL populations on the Gossypium hirsutum background, representing wide adaptation and high lint yield, with introgression from G. barbadense, representing superior fibre quality. We sequenced 99 CSSLs that demonstrated significant differences from G. hirsutum in fibre, and characterized 836 dynamic fibre transcriptomes in three crucial developmental stages. We developed a workflow for precise resolution of chromosomal substitution segments; the genome sequencing revealed substitutions collectively representing 87.25% of the G. barbadense genome. Together, the genomic and transcriptomic survey identified 18 novel fibre‐quality‐related quantitative trait loci with high genetic contributions and the comprehensive landscape of fibre development regulation. Furthermore, analysis determined unique cis‐expression patterns in CSSLs to be the driving force for fibre quality alteration; building upon this, the co‐expression regulatory network revealed biological relationships among the noted pathways and accurately described the molecular interactions of GhHOX3, GhRDL1 and GhEXPA1 during fibre elongation, along with reliable predictions for their interactions with GhTBA8A5. Our study will enhance more strategic employment of CSSL in crop molecular biology and breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Genome-wide mining of QTLs of fiber yield and fiber quality traits were beneficial to better understanding their genome level distributions. • A total of 64 stable QTLs of fiber yield and 75 stable QTLs of fiber quality were identified, which formed 33 clusters, indicating that the correlations between fiber yield and quality traits have complex genetic components. • These QTLs formed expression network, via their candidate genes, to orchestrate fiber development and the formation fiber yield and quality. • The candidate gene, GH_D07G2262, an upland cotton cellulose synthase 4 (GhCesA 4) gene had pleiotropic functions during cotton fiber development, which positively regulates fiber length and strength, and negatively lint percentage. Upland cotton is an important allotetrapolyploid crop providing natural fibers for textile industry. Under the present high-level breeding and production conditions, further simultaneous improvement of fiber quality and yield is facing unprecedented challenges due to their complex negative correlations. The study was to adequately identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and dissect how they orchestrate the formation of fiber quality and yield. A high-density genetic map (HDGM) based on an intraspecific recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 231 individuals was used to identify QTLs and QTL clusters of fiber quality and yield traits. The weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) package in R software was utilized to identify WGCNA network and hub genes related to fiber development. Gene functions were verified via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 strategies. An HDGM consisting of 8045 markers was constructed spanning 4943.01 cM of cotton genome. A total of 295 QTLs were identified based on multi-environmental phenotypes. Among 139 stable QTLs, including 35 newly identified ones, seventy five were of fiber quality and 64 yield traits. A total of 33 QTL clusters harboring 74 QTLs were identified. Eleven candidate hub genes were identified via WGCNA using genes in all stable QTLs and QTL clusters. The relative expression profiles of these hub genes revealed their correlations with fiber development. VIGS and CRISPR/Cas9 edition revealed that the hub gene cellulose synthase 4 (GhCesA4 , GH_D07G2262) positively regulate fiber length and fiber strength formation and negatively lint percentage. Multiple analyses demonstrate that the hub genes harbored in the QTLs orchestrate the fiber development. The hub gene GhCesA4 has opposite pleiotropic effects in regulating trait formation of fiber quality and yield. The results facilitate understanding the genetic basis of negative correlation between cotton fiber quality and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: GhMAC3e expression was induced by various stresses and hormones. GhMAC3e may regulate plant growth by influencing auxin distribution, and play important roles in Verticillium wilt resistance via mediating SA signaling. The MOS4-Associated Complex (MAC) is a highly conserved protein complex involved in pre-mRNA splicing and spliceosome assembly, which plays a vital role in plant immunity. It comprises key components such as MOS4, CDC5, and PRL1. MAC3A/B, as U-box E3 ubiquitin ligases, are crucial for various plant processes including development, stress responses, and disease resistance. However, their roles in cotton remain largely unknown. In this study, we first cloned the GhMAC3e gene from cotton and explored its biological functions by using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in cotton and transgenic overexpression in Arabidopsis. The results showed that GhMAC3e is ubiquitously expressed in cotton tissues and could be induced by salt stress, Verticillium dahliae (VD) infection, PEG, ABA, ETH, GA3, MeJA, and SA. Silencing GhMAC3e retarded primary stem growth and reduced biomass of cotton coupled with the reduced auxin content in the petioles and veins. Silencing GhMAC3e up-regulated expression of cell growth-related genes GhXTH16 and Gh3.6, while down-regulated GhSAUR12 expression. Ectopic expression of GhMAC3e in Arabidopsis significantly enhanced its resistance to Verticillium wilt (VW) in terms of decreased pathogen biomass and lowered plant mortality. Overexpression of GhMAC3e dramatically upregulated AtPR1 by around 15 fold and more than 262 fold under basal and VD inoculation condition, respectively. This change was not associated with the expression of GhNPR1. In conclusion, GhMAC3e may not only regulate plant growth by influencing auxin distribution and growth-related gene expression, but also play important roles in VW resistance via mediating SA signaling independent of NPR1 transcription level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted over two seasons to study the effect of drip fertigation levels and foliar nutrition on the growth and yield of cotton-black gram cropping sequences. The treatments comprised three levels of fertigation viz., 50, 75, and 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), combined with and without two levels of foliar spray, drip irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF, and surface irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF as a control. Drip-irrigated cotton and black gram registered higher yields during both seasons as compared to the surface methods of irrigation. Application of 100% RDF as drip fertigation combined with a foliar spray of 1% urea phosphate registered the highest seed cotton yield of 3598 kg ha−1 and black gram grain yield of 856 kg ha−1, which was significantly superior over the control. Application of nutrients through drip fertigation improved seed cotton yield by 45.2% and blackgram grain yield by 49.8% compared with conventional surface irrigation with soil application of fertilizers. From the results, it could be concluded that drip fertigation at 100% RDF with foliar spray of 1% urea phosphate can be recommended for higher productivity in the cotton-black gram cropping sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to create fire-resistant performance of polyurethane (PU)-coated textiles by adding wool powder as a flame retardant on both cotton and polyester fabrics. A flame-retardant surface was therefore developed by coating the fabrics with a mixture of PU and wool powder and characterised by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results demonstrated that with a coating thickness of 0.5 mm onwards, an improvement in the fire-resistant properties is observed. Unlike fabrics coated only with PU, the addition of wool powder allows the fabrics to resist the flame at 5 and 10 s. Water and air permeability properties of the coated fabrics were also evaluated and show interesting and complementary results. Integration of wool powder as a flame retardant is a promising approach to develop fire-resistant fabrics that can lead to wide applications in fire protection and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid composites made of natural fibers are replacing composites made of synthetic fibers, which is better for the environment. In this study, a Cotton/Corn Hybrid Composite was prepared using compression moulding and evaluated the Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM) process variables on surface quality. The AWJM investigations were conducted using experimental design approaches, with variables including water pressure, nozzle transfer speed, and standoff distance. Among these variables, it was determined that nozzle transfer speed had the most influential impact on surface quality. The optimal machining parameters P2, s1, and d1 were identified, resulting in a surface roughness of 4.459 μm. This demonstrates that accomplishing better surface quality is attainable through the suitable parameter selection. Further, the prediction model's efficiency was validated by establishing a strong relationship between the experimental, predicted, and validated surface roughness values. This highlights the model's reliability in predicting and optimizing surface quality in the AWJM process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drought stress markedly constrains plant growth and diminishes crop productivity. Strigolactones (SLs) exert a beneficial influence on plant resilience to drought conditions. Nevertheless, the specific function of SLs in modulating cotton's response to drought stress remains to be elucidated. Results: In this study, we assess the impact of exogenous SL (rac-GR24) administration at various concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 µM) on cotton growth during drought stress. The findings reveal that cotton seedlings treated with 5 µM exogenous SL exhibit optimal mitigation of growth suppression induced by drought stress. Treatment with 5 µM exogenous SL under drought stress conditions enhances drought tolerance in cotton seedlings by augmenting photosynthetic efficiency, facilitating stomatal closure, diminishing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, alleviating membrane lipid peroxidation, enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, elevating the levels of osmoregulatory compounds, and upregulating the expression of drought-responsive genes. The suppression of cotton SL biosynthesis genes, MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 3 (GhMAX3) and GhMAX4b, impairs the drought tolerance of cotton. Conversely, overexpression of GhMAX3 and GhMAX4b in respective Arabidopsis mutants ameliorates the drought-sensitive phenotype in these mutants. Conclusion: These observations underscore that SLs significantly bolster cotton's resistance to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early maturity and simultaneous increase in yield of cotton are pivotal for increasing the productivity of cropping systems involving cotton. Current two-year study was performed to simultaneously enhance the earliness and yield of cotton by modulating plant population (PP) (5.3 and 8.8 plants m−2), foliar boron (B) (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/L B) and 0.07 g/L mepiquat chloride (MC) solution (at squaring and flowering stages) application. Internodes length was exalted at high PP (8.8 plants m-2) and B (1.2 g/L B), while declined by MC. Nevertheless, nodes above the white flower and cracked boll were decreased at high PP, and the application of B and MC indicated earlier cutout. Similarly, high PP, and application of 1.2 g/L B and MC at squaring reduced calendar and thermal time needed for flowering and boll opening. The boll maturation period was not affected by the application of B and MC but declined at high PP. Earliness index, production rate index (PRI) and seed cotton yield were increased at high PP, application of 1.2 g/L B and MC at squaring. In crux, increasing PP and B concentration, and MC application at squaring resulted in early maturity and enhanced seed cotton yield by modulating plant structure and time required for various phenophases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Fiber elongation rate is an essential characteristic of cotton fiber in the textile industry, yet it has been largely overlooked in genetic studies. Gibberellins (GAs) and auxin (IAA) are recognized for their role in directing numerous developmental processes in plants by influencing cell differentiation and elongation. However, the degree to which GA–IAA interaction governs cellular elongation in cotton fiber cells remains to be fully understood. In this study, we identified a causal gene, Gibberellic Acid‐Stimulated in Arabidopsis 24 (GhGASA24), that appears to be responsible for fiber elongation rate via regulating fiber cell wall thickness. Subsequent experiments revealed that GhGASA24 influences cell wall formation by promoting the expression of GhCesA8 and GhCesA10. Our findings suggest that Auxin Response Factor 2 (GhARF2) regulates fiber elongation rate by directly binding to the AuxRE elements in GhGASA24 promoter. In addition, we identified Growth Regulation Factor 4 (GhGRF4) as a transcription factor that interacts with GhARF2 to form a heterodimer complex, which also transcriptionally activates GhGASA24. Intriguingly, GhGRF4 regulates GhARF2 expression by directly binding to its promoter, thereby acting as a cascade regulator to enhance the transcriptional levels of GhGASA24. We propose that the GhGRF4/GhARF2‐GhGASA24‐GhCesAs module may contribute to fiber cell wall thickness by modulating cellulose biosynthesis, and provide a theoretical basis for improvement of fiber quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Potassium deficiency significantly hinders cotton growth and development, adversely affecting yield and fiber quality. Applying potassium fertilizer is a common practice to address potassium deficiency in the soil. However, the effectiveness of potassium fertilizer application depends on the appropriate soil potassium levels in cotton fields. Methods: This study used a randomized block design with six different soil potassium levels and conducted experiments across 18 micro-zones in the field. This study aimed to investigate the response of cotton yield and quality to different soil potassium levels, to try to clarify the suitable soil potassium levels for cotton growth, so as to provide practical and effective help for determining the amount of potash fertilizer in the cotton field. Results: The results showed that the seedcotton yield was increasing, with the soil potassium level increased under no tillage. There was no significant difference among K4, K5, and K6 on seedcotton yield, which were significantly higher than K1 and K2. As soil potassium levels increased, the proportion of autumn boll and the proportion of outer boll also increased, indicating that higher soil potassium levels support the better growth and development of cotton in the middle and late stages, leading to increased boll sets and higher yields. Additionally, the available potassium content in the 0-40-cm soil layer was significantly correlated with yield and yield parameters but not with fiber quality indices. Discussion: It is concluded that K4 treatment could provide sufficient potassium to meet the growth and development needs of cotton. Potassium fertilizer application is recommended when the available potassium content in the 0-40-cm soil layer falls below 122.88 mg kg-1 in the cotton field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is an important strategic material and one of our important economic crops. It plays an important role in our agricultural production, people's livelihood and secondary and tertiary industries. Cotton aphid is one of the major pests in the process of cotton growth and development. The lag and inaccuracy of aphid information will lead to the excessive application of pesticides, which will accelerate the destruction of cotton habitat and the pollution of cotton field environment. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to obtain the temporal and spatial distribution, hazard level and occurrence area of aphids in cotton fields in real time and accurately for the prevention and control of cotton aphid, cotton field management and farmland environmental protection. Remote sensing technology and machine vision technology speed up the acquisition of real-time and dynamic information and classification of aphids in cotton fields. This paper focused on "cotton aphid situation information monitoring", carried out literature review and combing at home and abroad, and described the research status and progress of traditional methods, remote sensing technology and image recognition on cotton aphid situation information. The problems in the monitoring of cotton aphid were discussed, and the research focus and development trend of the monitoring and diagnosis of cotton aphid damage information in the future were prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton seeds have poorer germination than other crops because of their high sensitivity towards insect pests and other biotic and abiotic stresses during the germination process. In the present study, inorganic bulk and nano nutrients of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical reduction method and invigourated with cotton seeds. The characterization of nanoparticles was done by FESEM, HRTEM, UV/Vis analysis and FTIR. The delinted and fuzzy seeds of two American cotton varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i) were nano-primed for 10 h with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) @ 400 ppm and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) @ 100 ppm. After nanoparticle invigouration, the seeds were analyzed for various parameters at different intervals (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months) such as germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, antioxidant enzyme activity. The results indicated that that different storage periods and nanopriming treatments had significant effects on all seed quality parameters except the effect of nanopriming treatments on germination percentage (excluding delinted seeds of H 1098-i). It is also revealed that the interaction effect of nanopriming treatment and storage period was non-significant on all parameters except EC. Maximum reduction in seed quality parameters was observed in control treatment and minimum was found when seeds were nanoprimed with ZnONPs @ 400 ppm. The differences in the response for both NPs can be attributed to their surface charge, and concentration used. Overall, ZnONPs and TiO2NPs could hold seed quality and vigour during the storage of cotton seeds of American varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Caterpillar feeding immediately triggers the release of volatile compounds stored in the leaves of cotton plants. Additionally, after 1 d of herbivory, the leaves release other newly synthesised volatiles. We investigated whether these volatiles affect chemical defences in neighbouring plants and whether such temporal shifts in emissions matter for signalling between plants. Undamaged receiver plants were exposed to volatiles from plants infested with Spodoptera caterpillars. For receiver plants, we measured changes in defence‐related traits such as volatile emissions, secondary metabolites, phytohormones, gene expression, and caterpillar feeding preference. Then, we compared the effects of volatiles emitted before and after 24 h of damage on neighbouring plant defences. Genes that were upregulated in receiver plants following exposure to volatiles from damaged plants were the same as those activated directly by herbivory on a plant. Only volatiles emitted after 24 h of damage, including newly produced volatiles, were found to increase phytohormone levels, upregulate defence genes, and enhance resistance to caterpillars. These results indicate that the defence induction by volatiles is a specific response to de novo synthesised volatiles, suggesting that these compounds are honest signals of herbivore attack. These findings point to an adaptive origin of airborne signalling between plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Cotton fiber (Gossypium hirsutum) serves as an ideal model for investigating the molecular mechanisms of plant cell elongation at the single‐cell level. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development. However, the mechanism by which BR influences cotton fiber elongation remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified EXORDIUM‐like (GhEXL3) through transcriptome analysis of fibers from BR‐deficient cotton mutant pagoda 1 (pag1) and BRI1‐EMS‐SUPPRESSOR 1 (GhBES1.4, encoding a central transcription factor of BR signaling) overexpression cotton lines. Knockout of GhEXL3 using CRISPR/Cas9 was found to impede cotton fiber elongation, while its overexpression promoted fiber elongation, suggesting a positive regulatory function for GhEXL3 in fiber elongation. Furthermore, in vitro ovule culture experiments revealed that the overexpression of GhEXL3 partially counteracted the inhibitory effects of brassinazole (BRZ) on cotton fiber elongation, providing additional evidence of GhEXL3 involvement in BR signaling pathways. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that GhBES1.4 directly binds to the E‐box (CACGTG) motif in the GhEXL3 promoter region and enhances its transcription. RNA‐seq analysis revealed that overexpression of GhEXL3 upregulated the expression of EXPs, XTHs, and other genes associated with fiber cell elongation. Overall, our study contributes to understanding the mechanism by which BR regulates the elongation of cotton fibers through the direct modulation of GhEXL3 expression by GhBES1.4. Significance Statement: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cotton fiber elongation is crucial for improving fiber yield. This study reveals that the EXORDIUM‐like gene (GhEXL3) positively regulates fiber elongation in response to brassinosteroids (BRs). By demonstrating that GhBES1.4, a key BR signaling transcription factor, directly activates GhEXL3, we provide insights into how BR signaling pathways influence fiber growth. These findings enhance our understanding of BR‐mediated fiber development and offer potential targets for genetic improvement in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unidentified material was found in the Royal Tomb II of Vergina, Greece within the golden ossuary (larnax) with the bones of the male occupant and his golden wreath. Physical, chemical, and microscopic analyses showed that it is a cotton textile dyed purple which sandwiches one or two layers of a whitish material made mainly of the mineral huntite. The presence of cotton is especially significant, as it downdates Tomb II. The physical description exactly fits the description in the ancient sources of the sacred Persian mesoleucon sarapis which belonged to Pharaoh and King Alexander the Great and as such it was the most precious object in antiquity. This sarapis is also depicted in the frieze of Tomb II on the sixth hunter, identified as Alexander. The Persian gazelle, depicted in the frieze also downdates Tomb II. Thus, many of the artifacts in Tomb II belonged to Alexander the Great. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton stalk is one of the most high-quality biomass resources with a wide range of applications, such as building boards, chemical product raw materials, fuel, and papermaking. China is one of the major cotton-producing countries in the world. The planting area (3×106 hm²) has been ranked third in 2022, leading to the very abundant cotton stalk resources. The cotton stalks can be fully utilized to accelerate the green and low-carbon development of agriculture. Mechanical harvesting can be expected to efficiently remove the cotton stalks from the field. However, the current uprooting machine also needs to be improved and optimized for the cotton stalk. In this research, a clamping-type uprooting device with variable stiffness was designed for a high uprooting rate and low clamping breakage rate. The variable rigidity clamping was adjusted as follows. The flexible rubber clamping was used to prevent the cotton stalk from breaking; A rigid support structure was designed on the outside of the rubber block to obtain a greater clamping force. The better performance was achieved by clamping tightly without breaking the cotton stalk. The uprooting was also improved for the two scenarios of breakage and slippage. The device often consisted of a dividing disk, variable stiffness clamping and pulling mechanism, and tensioning guide mechanism. The dividing disk was used for the orderly feeding of cotton stalks; The variable stiffness clamping and pulling mechanism was used to realize the clamping and pulling of cotton stalks; The tensioning guide mechanism was to effectively control the clamping force and gap of cotton stalks. Two sets of chains were utilized to drive multiple clamping blocks, indicating a simple and reliable structure. Moreover, the frictional heating of traditional flexible belt mechanisms was avoided in this structure. A mechanical analysis was carried out on the cotton stalk pulling motion and the interaction between the variable stiffness clamp and the cotton stalk. The critical structural dimensions and operating parameter ranges were determined for the variable stiffness clamping device. A systematic investigation was made to clarify the influencing factors on the quality of clamping and pulling. The response surface method (RSM) was used to analyze the effects of the forward speed, the rotational speed of the active sprocket, and the clamping force on the stalk uprooting performance of the variable stiffness clamping and pulling device. The field test validated the simulation. The results showed that there was very consistency between the experimental and theoretical predictions, when the forward speed was 0.68 m/s, and the sprocket speed was 95 r/min. The tension force was 1 792 N, and the cotton stalk uprooting rate was 94.70%. The relative error between the measured and predicted uprooting rate value was 1.67%, which was less than 5%. The leakage rate and breakage rate of variable stiffness clamping and uprooting devices were 3.99% and 1.32%, respectively, compared with the existing devices of 5.19% and 3.68%, respectively. Therefore, the leakage rate and breakage rate of the device were reduced by 23.1% and 64.13%, respectively, compared with the former. The variable stiffness gripper effectively reduced the cotton stalk breakage to realize the whole stalk uprooting. The finding can provide new ideas to design the variable stiffness clamps, in order to optimize and improve the cotton stalk pullers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Verticillium dahliae causes a serious decline in cotton yield and quality, posing a serious threat to the cotton industry. However, the mechanism of resistance to V. dahliae in cotton is still unclear, which limits the breeding of resistant cultivars. Methods: To analyze the defense mechanisms of cotton in response to V. dahliae infection, we compared the defense responses of two upland cotton cultivars from Xinjiang (JK1775, resistant; Z8,susceptible) using transcriptome sequencing at different infection stages. Results: The results revealed a significant differential expression of genes in the two cotton cultivars post V. dahliae infection, with the number of DEGs in JK1775 being higher than that in Z8 at different infection stages of V. dahliae. Interestingly, the DEGs of both JK1775 and Z8 were enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway in the early and late stages of infection. Importantly, the upregulated DEGs in both cultivars were significantly enriched in all stages of the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway. Some of these DEGs were involved in the regulation of lignin and coumarin biosynthesis, which may be one of the key factors contributing to the resistance of upland cotton cultivars to V. dahliae in Xinjiang. Lignin staining experiments further showed that the lignin content increased in both resistant and susceptible varieties after inoculation with V. dahliae. Discussion: This study not only provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of resistance to Verticillium wilt in Xinjiang upland cotton but also offers important candidate gene resources for molecular breeding of resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heterosis is a common phenomenon in plants and has been extensively applied in crop breeding. However, the superior traits in the hybrids can only be maintained in the first generation but segregate in the following generations. Maintaining heterosis in generations has been challenging but highly desirable in crop breeding. Recent study showed that maternally produced diploid seeds could be achieved in rice by knocking out three meiosis related genes, namely REC8, PAIR1, OSD1 to create MiMe in combination with egg cell specific expression of BBM transcription factor, a technology called clonal seeds. Interestingly, there has been very limited reports indicating the feasibility of this approach in other crops. Results: In this study, we aimed to test whether clonal seeds could be created in cotton. We identified the homologs of the three meiosis related genes in cotton and used the multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to simultaneously knock out these three genes in both A and D sub-genomes. More than 50 transgenic cotton plants were generated, and fragment analysis indicated that multiple gene knockouts occurred in the transgenic plants. However, all the transgenic plants were sterile apparently due to the lack of pollen. Pollination of the flowers of the transgenic plants using the wild type pollens could not generate seeds, an indication of defects in the formation of female sexual cells in the transgenic plants. In addition, we generated transgenic cotton plants expressing the cotton BBM gene driven by the Arabidopsis egg cell specific promoter pDD45. Two transgenic plants were obtained, and both showed severely reduced fertility. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate that knockout of the clonal seeds related genes in cotton causes sterility and how to manipulate genes to create clonal seeds in cotton requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root system plays a crucial role in water and nutrient absorption, making it a significant factor affected by nitrogen (N) availability in the soil. However, the intricate dynamics and distribution patterns of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root density and N nutrient under varying N supplies in Southern Xinjiang, China, have not been thoroughly understood. A two-year experiment (2021 and 2022) was conducted to determine the effects of five N rates (0, 150, 225, 300, and 450 kg N ha−1) on the root system, shoot growth, N uptake and distribution, and cotton yield. Compared to the N0 treatment (0 kg N ha−1), the application of N fertilizer at a rate of 300 kg N ha−1 resulted in consistent and higher seed cotton yields of 5875 kg ha−1 and 6815 kg ha−1 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. This N fertilization also led to a significant improvement in dry matter weight and N uptake by 32.4% and 53.7%, respectively. Furthermore, applying N fertilizer at a rate of 225 kg N ha−1 significantly increased root length density (RLD), root surface density (RSD), and root volume density (RVD) by 49.6–113.3%, 29.1–95.1%, and 42.2–64.4%, respectively, compared to the treatment without N fertilization (0 kg N ha−1). Notably, the roots in the 0–20 cm soil layers exhibited a stronger response to N fertilization compared to the roots distributed in the 20–40 cm soil layers. The root morphology parameters (RLD, RSD, and RVD) at specific soil depths (0–10 cm in the seedling stage, 10–25 cm in the bud stage, and 20–40 cm in the peak boll stage) were significantly associated with N uptake and seed cotton yield. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer supply within the range of 225–300 kg N ha−1 can enhance root foraging, thereby promoting the interaction between roots and shoots and ultimately improving cotton production in arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated cotton plants are the world's largest source of natural fibre, where yield and quality are key traits for this renewable and biodegradable commodity. The Gossypium hirsutum cotton genome contains ~80K protein-coding genes, making precision breeding of complex traits a challenge. This study tested approaches to improving the genomic prediction (GP) accuracy of valuable cotton fibre traits to help accelerate precision breeding. With a biology-informed basis, a novel approach was tested for improving GP for key cotton fibre traits with transcriptomics of key time points during fibre development, namely, fibre cells undergoing primary, transition, and secondary wall development. Three test approaches included weighting of SNPs in DE genes overall, in target DE gene lists informed by gene annotation, and in a novel approach of gene co-expression network (GCN) clusters created with partial correlation and information theory (PCIT) as the prior information in GP models. The GCN clusters were nucleated with known genes for fibre biomechanics, i.e., fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins, and cluster size effects were evaluated. The most promising improvements in GP accuracy were achieved by using GCN clusters for cotton fibre elongation by 4.6%, and strength by 4.7%, where cluster sizes of two and three neighbours proved most effective. Furthermore, the improvements in GP were due to only a small number of SNPs, in the order of 30 per trait using the GCN cluster approach. Non-trait-specific biological time points, and genes, were found to have neutral effects, or even reducedGP accuracy for certain traits. As theGCNclusterswere generated based on known genes for fibre biomechanics, additional candidate genes were identified for fibre elongation and strength. These results demonstrate that GCN clusters make a specific and unique contribution in improving the GP of cotton fibre traits. The findings also indicate that there is room for incorporating biology-based GCNs into GP models of genomic selection pipelines for cotton breeding to help improve precision breeding of target traits. The PCIT-GCN cluster approach may also hold potential application in other crops and trees for enhancing breeding of complex traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AGAMOUS-LIKE 8 (AGL8) belongs to the MADS-box family, which plays important roles in transcriptional regulation, sequence-specific DNA binding and other biological processes and molecular functions. The genome of cotton, a representative polyploid plant, contains multiple AGL8 genes. However, their functional differentiation is still unclear. Methods and results: In this study, a comprehensive genomic analysis of AGL8 genes was conducted. Cotton AGL8s were subdivided into four subgroups (Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4) based on phylogenetic analysis, and different subgroups of AGL8s presented different characteristics, including different structures and conserved motifs. With respect to the promoter regions of the GhAGL8 genes, we successfully predicted cis-elements that respond to phytohormone signal transduction and the stress response of plants. Transcriptome data and real-time quantitative PCR validation indicated that three genes, namely, GH_D07G0744, GH_A03G0856 and GH_A07G0749, were highly induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), and abscisic acid (ABA), which indicated that they function in plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Conclusions: The information from the gene structure, number and types of conserved domains, tissue-specific expression levels, and expression patterns under different treatments highlights the differences in sequence and function of the cotton AGL8 genes. Different AGL8s play roles in vegetative growth, reproductive development, and plant stress resistance. These results lay a foundation for further study of GhAGL8s in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many challenges in cotton cultivation, which are mainly linked to management practices and market demands. The textile commerce requirements are increasing but the effects of climate change on cotton cultivation are becoming an issue, as its commercial development depends significantly on the availability of favorable climatic parameters and the absence of insect pests. In this research, it was studied whether the use of two commercial strains as cotton seed coatings could effectively contribute to the previous obstacles. The experiment was carried out in semi-field conditions at the University of Ioannina. It used a completely randomized design and lasted for 150 days. The following treatments were tested: (a) coated seeds with a commercial strain of Beauveria bassiana (Velifer®); (b) coated seeds with a combination of Velifer® and a commercial strain of Beauveria bassiana (Selifer®); and (c) uncoated cotton seeds (control). The biostimulant effect of the two seed coatings was assessed against the growth characteristics of cotton, and the total chlorophyll and proline content. The bioinsecticidal effect was evaluated by measuring the population of Aphis gossypii on the cotton leaves. The proline effect increased by 15% in the treated plants, whereas the total chlorophyll was higher in the use of both Velifer® and Velifer®–Selifer® treatments by 32% and 19%, respectively. Aphid populations also decreased in the treated plants compared to the control plants (29.9% in Velifer® and 22.4% in Velifer®–Selifer®). Based on an assessment of the above parameters, it follows that the two seed coatings can significantly enhance the growth performance of cotton and reduce the abundance of A. gossypii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate estimation of soil plant analytical development (SPAD) values in cotton under various intercropping patterns with soybean is crucial for monitoring cotton growth and determining a suitable intercropping pattern. In this study, we utilized an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to capture visible (RGB) and multispectral (MS) data of cotton at the bud stage, early flowering stage, and full flowering stage in a cotton–soybean intercropping pattern in the Yellow River Delta region of China, and we used SPAD502 Plus and tapeline to collect SPAD and cotton plant height (CH) data of the cotton canopy, respectively. We analyzed the differences in cotton SPAD and CH under different intercropping ratio patterns. It was conducted using Pearson correlation analysis between the RGB features, MS features, and cotton SPAD, then the recursive feature elimination (RFE) method was employed to select image features. Seven feature sets including MS features (five vegetation indices + five texture features), RGB features (five vegetation indices + cotton cover), and CH, as well as combinations of these three types of features with each other, were established. Voting regression (VR) ensemble learning was proposed for estimating cotton SPAD and compared with the performances of three models: random forest regression (RFR), gradient boosting regression (GBR), and support vector regression (SVR). The optimal model was then used to estimate and visualize cotton SPAD under different intercropping patterns. The results were as follows: (1) There was little difference in the mean value of SPAD or CH under different intercropping patterns; a significant positive correlation existed between CH and SPAD throughout the entire growth period. (2) All VR models were optimal when each of the seven feature sets were used as input. When the features set was MS + RGB, the determination coefficient (R2) of the validation set of the VR model was 0.902, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1.599, and the relative prediction deviation (RPD) was 3.24. (3) When the features set was CH + MS + RGB, the accuracy of the VR model was further improved, compared with the feature set MS + RGB, the R2 and RPD were increased by 1.55% and 8.95%, respectively, and the RMSE was decreased by 7.38%. (4) In the intercropping of cotton and soybean, cotton growing under 4:6 planting patterns was better. The results can provide a reference for the selection of intercropping patterns and the estimation of cotton SPAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters is very important for understanding plant photosynthesis. Monitoring cotton chlorophyll fluorescence parameters via spectral technology can aid in understanding the photosynthesis, growth, and stress of cotton fields in real time and provide support for cotton growth regulation and planting management. In this study, cotton plot experiments with different water treatments were set up to obtain the spectral reflectance of the cotton canopy, the maximum photochemical quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) of leaves at different growth stages. Support vector machine regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), and artificial neural network regression (ANNR) were used to establish a fluorescence parameter inversion model of the cotton canopy leaves. The results show that the original spectrum was transformed by multivariate scattering correction (MSC), the standard normal variable (SNV), and continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and the model constructed with Fv/Fm passed accuracy verification. The SNV-SVR model at the budding stage, the MSC-SVR model at the early flowering stage, the SNV-SVR model at the full flowering stage, the MSC-SVR model at the flowering stage, and the CWT-SVR model at the full boll stage had the highest estimation accuracy. The accuracies of the three spectral preprocessing and qP models were verified, and the MSC-SVR model at the budding stage, SNV-SVR model at the early flowering stage, MSC-SVR model at the full flowering stage, SNV-SVR model at the flowering stage, and CWT-SVR model at the full boll stage presented the highest estimation accuracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses soil productivity in a 15-hectare cotton field using an integrated approach combining field data, laboratory analysis, and remote sensing techniques. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for key parameters including nitrogen (N), humus, phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K2O), carbonates, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC). In addition to low salinity, these analyses showed low results for humus and nutrient parameters. A Pearson correlation analysis showed that low organic matter and high salinity had a strong negative correlation with crop productivity, explaining 37% of the variation in NDVI values. Remote sensing indices (NDVI, SAVI, NDMI, and NDSI) confirmed these findings by highlighting the relationship between soil properties and spectral reflectance. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of remote sensing in soil assessment, emphasizing its critical role in sustainable agricultural planning. By integrating traditional methods with advanced remote sensing technologies, this study provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to improve soil productivity and ensure food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-friendly and cost-effective biomass-derived materials have garnered significant attention for producing porous activated carbon with a high surface area, particularly for applications in supercapacitors. In this study, the stalks of Gossypium hirsutum L. flower were utilized to prepare activated carbon (AC), and thus act as a supercapacitor electrode material. Furthermore, carbon has undergone doping with nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) atoms to enhance the surface properties of the activated carbons. Out of all the recently prepared materials based on activated carbon, the sulfur-doped activated carbon (S-doped AC) exhibits notable features, particularly in terms of high surface area properties. In 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte, the S-doped AC electrode presents the specific capacitance of 424 F g− 1 at 1 A g− 1 with a remarkable rate capability of 64.8% at 5 A g− 1 of current density in an electrode electrochemical system. Furthermore, the capacitance retention of 95% after 5000 charge/discharge cycles at 5 A g− 1. The symmetric device composed of S-doped AC//S-doped AC material demonstrates a cell-specific capacitance of 153.6 F g− 1 at 1 A g− 1, along with impressive energy and power densities of 41.8 Wh kg− 1 and 700 W kg− 1, respectively, at 1 A g− 1. At 10 A g− 1, the symmetric device maintains energy and power densities of 7.7 Wh kg− 1 and 7000 W kg− 1, respectively. The device demonstrates cyclic stability, retaining 89% of its initial specific capacitance after undergoing 5000 charge/discharge cycles at 10 A g− 1. Therefore, activated carbon derived from the stalks of Gossypium hirsutum L. flowers emerges as a promising avenue for creating cost-effective, large-scale materials suitable for applications in energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we aim to investigate the characteristics of the Bach and Cotton tensors on Lorentzian manifolds, particularly those admitting a semi-symmetric metric ω -connection. First, we prove that a Lorentzian manifold admitting a semi-symmetric metric ω -connection with a parallel Cotton tensor is quasi-Einstein and Bach flat. Next, we show that any quasi-Einstein Lorentzian manifold admitting a semi-symmetric metric ω -connection is Bach flat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DMP (DOMAIN OF UNKNOWN FUNCTION 679 membrane protein) domain, containing a family of membrane proteins specific to green plants, is involved in numerous biological functions including physiological processes, reproductive development and senescence in Arabidopsis, but their evolutionary relationship and biological function in most crops remains unknown. In this study, we scrutinized phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, conserved domains and motifs, promoter regions, gene loss/duplication events and expression patterns. Overall, 240 DMPs were identified and analyzed in 24 plant species selected from lower plants to angiosperms. Comprehensive evolutionary analysis revealed that these DMPs underwent purifying selection and could be divided into five groups (I–V). DMP gene structure showed that it may have undergone an intron loss event during evolution. The five DMP groups had the same domains, which were distinct from each other in terms of the number of DMPs; group III was the largest, closely followed by group V. The DMP promotor region with various cis-regulatory elements was predicted to have a potential role in development, hormone induction and abiotic stresses. Based on transcriptomic data, expression profiling revealed that DMPs were primarily expressed in reproductive organs and were moderately expressed in other tissues. Evolutionary analysis suggested that gene loss events occurred more frequently than gene duplication events among all groups. Overall, this genome-wide study elucidates the potential function of the DMP gene family in selected plant species, but further research is needed in many crops to validate their biological roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the intricate interaction between the properties of textile substrates and screen-printing parameters in shaping fabric circuits using silver conductive ink. Via analyzing key variables such as fabric type, mesh density, and the number of overprinted layers, the research revealed how the porous structure, large surface area, and fiber morphology of textile substrates influence ink absorption, ultimately enhancing the electrical connectivity of the printed circuits. Notably, the hydrophilic cotton staple fibers fabric effectively absorbed the conductive ink into the fabric substrate, demonstrating superior electrical performance compared with the hydrophobic polyester filament fabric after three overprinting, unlike the results observed after a single print. As mesh density decreased and the number of prints increased, the electrical resistance of the circuit gradually reduced, but ink bleeding on the fabric surface became more pronounced. Cotton fabric, via absorbing the ink deeply, exhibited less surface bleeding, while polyester fabric showed more noticeable ink spreading. These findings provide valuable insights for improving screen printing technology for textile circuits and contribute to the development of advanced fabric circuits that enhance the functionality of smart wearable technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cotton production in Tanzania is facing significant challenges due to insect pests that cause extensive damages to the crop. The most notable pests include the African bollworm (Heliothis armigera Hubner), Spiny bollworm (Earias biplaga Walker), Cotton stainers (Dysdercus sidae (Herrich-Schaeffer), Cotton Aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover), Thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman), Jassids (Amrasca biguttula, Bigutula), Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae jassidae), andWhiteflies (Bemisia tabaci Genn). If left uncontrolled, these pests can cause up to 60% damage to the crop. Despite the importance of cotton and the fact that most of these pests are endemic, there are scanty knowledge on the dynamics and distribution of cotton pests across the seasons of the year and crop's phenological growth stages (germination, vegetative growth, flowering and boll formation) in areas under repeated cultivation of the crop in Tanzania. Here we report on the influence of seasons and cotton's phenological stages on the abundance, diversity, distribution and richness of cotton insect pests. Methods: The studywas conducted in the Misungwi district for two cotton-growing seasons, using the UKM08 cotton variety. Stick traps and handpickingmethods were deployed in catching the cotton insect pests. Results: On average, a total of 8,500 insect specimen of diverse families and species were collected every season. The four dominant species among the collected were Aphis gossypii (17.37%), Amrasca biguttula (11.42%), Nezara viridura (10.7%), and Bemisia tabacci (10.68%). Both cotton phenological growth stages and seasons significantly (p<0.05) influenced the abundance, diversity, distribution and richness of cotton insect pests. In particular, the phenological growth stage 3 exhibited greater diversity of insect pests. The pests' distribution patterns remained relatively uniform across the crop growth stages. Discussion: Findings from the present study could contribute to developing sustainable pest management strategies in areas under repeated cotton production in Tanzania and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gossypium hirsutum L., commonly known as upland cotton, is cultivated globally for natural fiber, feed, and seed oil. To enhance agricultural productivity and quality, living modified (LM) cotton has been developed and utilized since the late 1990s. Due to environmental concerns, such as biodiversity risks associated with living modified organisms (LMOs), the Korean government, including the Ministry of Environment, has been conducting LMO natural environment monitoring and post-management projects. In this study, we developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to detect five specific LM cotton events (MON88701, MON531, MON15985, MON88913, and COT102), which were the most abundant volunteers observed from 2019 to 2021 in South Korea. The event-specific LAMP assays for the five LM cotton events were established with a 40-min reaction time using LAMP reaction buffer, Bst DNA polymerase, and event-specific primers. The limit of detection ranged from 0.01 to 1 ng/μL. The assays' specificity and sensitivity were validated through colorimetric changes, fluorescence intensity measurements, and conventional PCR. To demonstrate the practical application of the LAMP assays, we tested 22 LM cotton volunteers collected from the natural environment in 2021. Each LAMP assay event-specifically amplified the respective LM cotton volunteers. These results indicate that the developed LAMP assays are effective tools for the efficient management and detection of LM cotton in field surveys, supporting regulatory compliance and environmental monitoring efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China's Yangtze River and Yellow River basin cotton-growing regions, the complex terrain, scattered planting areas, and poor adaptability of the existing machinery have led to a mechanized cotton harvesting rate of less than 10%. To address this issue, we designed a crawler chassis for a brush-roller cotton harvester. It is specifically tailored to meet the 76 cm row spacing agronomic requirement. We also conducted a theoretical analysis of the power transmission system for the crawler chassis. Initially, we considered the terrain characteristics of China's inland cotton-growing regions and the current cotton agronomy practices. Based on these, we selected and designed the power system and chassis; then, a finite element static analysis was carried out on the chassis frame to ensure safety during operation; finally, field tests on the harvester's operability, stability, and speed were carried out. The results show that the inverted trapezoidal crawler walking device, combined with a hydraulic continuously variable transmission and rear-drive design, enhances the crawler's passability. The crawler parameters included a ground contact length of 1650 mm, a maximum ground clearance of 270 mm, a maximum operating speed of 6.1 km/h, and an actual turning radius of 2300 mm. The maximum deformation of the frame was 2.198 mm, the deformation of the walking chassis was 1.0716 mm, the maximum equivalent stress was 216.96 MPa, and the average equivalent stress of the entire frame was 5.6356 MPa, which complies with the physical properties of the selected material, Q235. The designed cotton harvester crawler chassis features stable straight-line and steering performance. The vehicle's speed can be adjusted based on the complexity of the terrain, with timely steering responses, minimal compaction on cotton, and reduced soil damage, meeting the requirements for mechanized harvesting in China's inland small plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study harnesses the potential of green and rooibos tea (GT and RT) aqueous extracts for obtaining colored bioactive cotton and cotton/flax fabrics with intended applications in medical textiles. The chemical characterization of the tea aqueous extracts was conducted using LC–HRMS/MS analysis, resulting in the detection of 129 bioactive compounds. GT demonstrates 2.2 times higher total phenolic content, a 14.7% lower total flavonoid content, and 3 times higher reducing power than RT. Both extracts exhibit excellent antioxidant activity (> 99.8%) and antibacterial activity (99.99%) against both tested bacteria, E. coli and S. aureus. Cotton and cotton/flax fabrics functionalized with GT or RT display outstanding antioxidant (99.63–100%) and antibacterial activity against S. aureus (90.95–99.33%), and high color strength values (5.48–11.08). The cytotoxicity assay confirmed the non-cytotoxic nature of 100% cotton fabric functionalized with GT. This sample additionally demonstrated an antibacterial reduction against E. coli and S. aureus higher than 99% and the highest release of bioactive compounds rendering it highly suitable for disposable medical textiles-wound dressings. To address the shortcomings of functionalized fabrics observed after washing, including decreased antioxidant activity (55.8–81.0%), diminished bacterial reduction, and reduced color strength values (0.80–1.36), copper-based nanoparticles (CuNPs) were biosynthesized in situ on their surfaces utilizing GT and RT aqueous extracts as reducing agents. The successful fabric decoration with CuNPs was proven by quantifying Cu2+ uptake, and characterization of the surface chemical composition and morphology of CuNPs. Colored CuNPs-decorated cotton and cotton/flax fabrics exhibited excellent antioxidant (> 98.28%) and antibacterial (99.99%) activity that remained almost unchanged after washing (94.44–98.90% and 99.99%, respectively). These fabrics are non-cytotoxic and characterized by small quantities of released bioactive compounds and Cu2+ ions into the physiological saline solution and hold promise as protective, reusable medical textiles suitable for producing gowns and drapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural dyes extracted from plants have gained increased importance in textile dyeing over the last few years for the development of sustainable chemical processes in the textile industry. In the above research, a novel natural dye was extracted from broccoli vegetables by ultrasonic extraction and subsequently applied to cotton material. The extracted natural dye and dyed cotton samples were characterized via FTIR, thermal, LC–MS, UV resistance and other functional tests, such as analysis of their color characteristics (K/S), fastness and antimicrobial properties. The results showed vibrant shades of green color with K/S values ranging from 0.55 to 2.71. The color fastness of the treated cotton samples ranged from moderately good to excellent. Additionally, the, dyed cotton samples showed greater reductions in the abundance of bacteria against S. aureus and E. coli. Hence, the overall results prove that the natural dye extracted from the vegetable broccoli has excellent dyeing potential for use with cellulosic material, increasing the greenness and sustainability of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to compare the water retention and moisture sorption of viscose (CV) and cotton (Co) fibers carboxymethylated from aqueous media, in presence of NaOH, with sodium monochloroacetate. It was shown previously that under the same treatment conditions, the degree of carboxymethylation was higher in CV and so was the depth within fiber structures to which the carboxymethylation reactions occurred. It was also shown previously, that in terms of their capacity for sorption of a cationic dye (methylene blue), the Co performed better than CV. In this work, the same fibers were tested for their water retention and moisture sorption propensities. The two were sensitive both to the degree of carboxymethylation and the inherent properties of fibers (accessibility, degree of swelling, hornification). But the moisture sorption levels were less sensitive to the degree of carboxymethylation and more to inherent fiber properties whereas the reverse was observed for water retention. In contrast to the prior observations with dye sorption, CV performed better than Co in both moisture sorption and water retention. The poor performance of CV in dye sorption was attributed to the greater depth of carboxymethylation within the fibers that hindered dye permeation, but the same feature was observed to result in better performance (water retention) or not to hinder performance (moisture sorption). These observations highlight the contrasting effects that may arise, of a given set of treatment parameters (fiber type, alkali level in treatment), on efficacy of the product performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton, as a natural fiber crop, plays a pivotal role in advancing global textile industry. Comparative transcriptome analyses of single-cell 'fiber' from wild and domesticated plant revealed the evolutionary selection of cell wall-associated profilin gene family during cotton domestication. However, the evolutionary significance of elevated transcript abundance of profilins (GhPRFs) in floral and fiber tissues, and their practical application in the field for improving crop yield remain poorly understood. In this study, the domestication-driven 402 bp long GhPRF1 gene (Pro35Sde:GhPRF1-pA) was constitutively overexpressed in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Coker 310FR) through Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of 1513 cotyledonary explants undergoing somatic embryogenesis. Out of the 32 putative GhPRF1 transgenic overexpression (Ox) lines produced, 26 lines were successfully confirmed with independent transgene integrations. Compared with those of the untransformed wild type (WT), the cumulative abundance of GhPRF1 transcripts in the leaf tissues of GhPRF1 overexpressing lines Pf-CaOx7, Pf-CaOx14, and Pf-CaOx19 substantially increased (> 12-fold). These transgenic lines exhibited increased numbers of secondary branches, flower buds per branch, and trichome density on the abaxial surface of leaves compared to the WT plants. Despite comparable fiber lengths between the overexpression lines and the WT, the enhanced fiber yields in the overexpression lines were attributed to increased flower number and boll production per branch. Remarkably, GhPRF1 overexpression also manifested transcriptional biases specific to profilin homologs in vegetative, floral, and fiber tissues. This is primarily attributed to increased actin polymerization and the formation of dense F-actin bundles, which are especially evident in the vascular regions of overexpression lines compared to those of the WT. This study revealed novel phenotypic and genetic foundations influencing floral and fiber architecture in cotton and offers promising avenues for manipulating agronomic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Thermo-regulating textiles incorporating Phase-Change Materials (PCMs) have emerged as innovative substances that automatically adapt to changes in environmental and body temperature. This paper presents an approach to develop a PCM-loaded composite yarn for potential use in medical textiles. Paraffin wax-based PCM nanocapsules were synthesized and integrated into cotton fibers during the ring spinning process. Subsequently, a composite core–shell-structured yarn was fabricated using electrospinning, comprising a cotton/PCM core and a poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/PCM nanofibrous shell. Morphological analysis confirmed the successful formation of the core–shell structure and the uniform distribution of PCM nanocapsules within the fibers. The composite yarns exhibited reduced diameters with increasing PCM nanocapsule content. Thermal analysis revealed that the incorporation of PCMs resulted in decreased glass transition and cold crystallization temperatures of the PLLA nanofibers. Additionally, the presence of PCMs increased the crystallinity of PLLA fibers. According to the thermoregulation test results, the presence of PCM in its structure affected the heating and cooling behavior of the yarns. The composite yarns were further functionalized by incorporating Vancomycin as an antibiotic agent for medical dressing applications. This progress signifies an improved thermoregulation, offering potential applications in wound care and other medical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study was conducted to examine the effects of quenched biosilica on the composite material composed of cotton microfibers and vinyl ester. Examining the performance of quenched biosilica reinforced in a vinyl ester composite with cotton microfiber is the primary focus of this research. After the biosilica was quenched after being generated from hardly husk, a hand layup process was employed to create the composites. Adding quenched biosilica in silane-treated form significantly increases the load bearing characteristics, according to the comprehensive analysis of many composite materials. Results from the fatigue tests show that VCB3 has remarkable resilience to fatigue, with a maximum stress of 74 MPa maintained after 104 cycles and a subsequent decline to 16 MPa at 106 cycles. In the dynamic mechanical investigation, VCB3 showed the least amount of energy dissipation and highest stiffness with a peak loss factor of 0.38. This finding is supported by the creep test, which shows that VCB3 exhibits the best structural stability under continuous load, with creep strain values ranging from 0.0059 at 5000 s to 0.0084 at 15,000 s. When quenched silane-treated biosilica is included into the composite matrix, its resistance to deformation, propagation of fractures and energy loss is enhanced. These findings demonstrate the importance of quenched silane-treated biosilica in improving the mechanical performance of composite materials, making them suitable for demanding applications including drones, automobiles, homes, and sports that demand high levels of thermal stability and exceptional durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton, an important industrial crop cultivated in more than 70 countries, plays a major role in the livelihood of millions of farmers and industrialists. Cotton is mainly grown for its fiber, an economic component that can be differentiated from its epidermal cells in the outer integument of a developing seed. Fiber length, fiber strength, and fiber fineness are three main attributes that contribute to the quality of cotton fibers. Recent advancements in genomics have identified key genes, which are the most important factors that govern these three traits, can be introduced into cultivars of interest via gene editing, marker-assisted selection, and transgenics, thus the narrow genetic background of cotton can be addressed and its fiber quality traits can be enhanced. Over the past two decades, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been mapped for different fiber traits, approximately 1 850 QTLs have been mapped for fiber length, fiber strength, and fineness among which a few genes have been edited for quality improvement in cotton. In this background, the current review covers the development and the factors that influence these traits, along with the reported genes, QTLs, and the edited genomes for trait improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Cottonseed oil is a high‐quality edible oil. A comprehensive analysis of the genetic basis of cottonseed oil formation at the molecular level will greatly promote the molecular improvement of this trait. This study performed a genome‐wide association study involving three modules integrated into the 3VmrMLM framework for cottonseed oil content (COC). In total, 49,533 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were screened across 152 upland cotton accessions. Twenty‐six, 10 and 26 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) for COC were respectively detected by the three modules: Single_env, Multi_env and Epistasis. Eight QTNs were simultaneously detected in at least two datasets or by at least two modules, and four genes associated with the stable QTNs were simultaneously enriched in GO and KEGG analyses. Using Multi_env, five QTN‐by‐environment interactions were detected, and six genes were simultaneously enriched in GO and KEGG analyses. Using Epistasis, 10 QTN‐by‐QTN interactions (QQIs) were detected, and eight protein–protein interactions involving six QQIs and eight gene pairs were predicted by a protein–protein interaction analysis. These findings provide novel insights into the genetic basis of COC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paliyar tribe of Kadamalaikundu, Theni District of Tamil Nadu, India, has been deeply associated with forestry and ethnomedicinal practices for ages. The study aimed to identify the important medicinal plant species used by this tribe for ethnomedicinal purposes in the local vicinity. Eighty-nine informants were interviewed using the 'specimen display' and forest walk method, semi-structured open-ended questionnaires, interviews, and personal observations. The people from the region reported ninety-three plant species having medicinal properties. The Solanaceae family was recorded as the most dominant plant family, reporting seven different species of medicinal plants, followed by six species of the Acanthaceae family. In the study, Coccinia grandis had the highest use value (2.5), followed by Withania somnifera (2). In contrast, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Gossypium hirsutum, and Ocimum tenuiflorum with use value (1) and the ICF (Informant Consensus Factor) of value 1 accounted for 15 diseases out of forty-one categorized ailments. This study confirmed that the Paliyar tribe was dependent on a large number of medicinal plants for their primary healthcare and veterinary well-being, which require immediate conservation owing to their population fragmentation and the reluctance of the younger generation to adopt ethnomedicinal practices as occupation, which could lead to the loss of traditional knowledge as well. The study also documented the various important medicinal plant uses that could pave the way to the new pharmacological dimensions for modern wellness programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial application of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has rapidly increased as their unique properties are useful to improve many products. ENPs, however, can pose a major health risk to workers through exposure routes such as inhalation and dermal contact. Research is lacking on the protective nature of lab coats when challenged with ENPs. This study investigated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon black (CB), and nano aluminum oxide (Al2O3) penetration through four types of lab coat fabrics (cotton, polypropylene, polyester cotton, and Tyvek). Penetration efficiency was determined with direct reading instruments. The front and back of contaminated fabric swatches were further assessed with microscopy analysis to determine fabric structure with contaminated and penetrated particle morphology and level of fabric contamination. Fabric thickness, porosity, structure, surface chemistry, and ENP characteristics such as shape, morphology, and hydrophobicity were assessed to determine the mechanisms behind particle capture on the four common fabrics. CNTs penetrated all fabrics significantly less than the other ENPs. CNT average penetration across all fabrics was 1.83% compared to 15.74 and 11.65% for CB and Al2O3, respectively. This can be attributed to their fiber shape and larger agglomerates than those of other ENPs. Tyvek fabric was found to be the most protective against CB and Al2O3 penetration, with an average penetration of 0.06 and 0.11%, respectively, while polypropylene was the least protective with an average penetration of 40.36 and 15.77%, respectively. Tyvek was the most nonporous fabric with a porosity of 0.50, as well as the most hydrophobic fabric, explaining the low penetration across all three ENPs. Polypropylene is the most porous fabric with a porosity of 0.77, making it the least protective against ENPs. We conclude that porosity, fabric structure, and thickness are more important fabric characteristics to consider when discussing particle penetration through protective clothing fabrics than surface chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers are elongated single cells that rapidly accumulate cellulose during secondary cell wall (SCW) thickening, which requires cellulose synthase complex (CSC) activity. Here, we describe the CSC‐interacting factor CASPARIAN STRIP MEMBRANE DOMAIN‐LIKE1 (GhCASPL1), which contributes to SCW thickening by influencing CSC stability on the plasma membrane. GhCASPL1 is preferentially expressed in fiber cells during SCW biosynthesis and encodes a MARVEL domain protein. The ghcaspl1 ghcaspl2 mutant exhibited reduced plant height and produced mature fibers with fewer natural twists, lower tensile strength, and a thinner SCW compared to the wild type. Similarly, the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) caspl1 caspl2 double mutant showed a lower cellulose content and thinner cell walls in the stem vasculature than the wild type but normal plant morphology. Introducing the cotton gene GhCASPL1 successfully restored the reduced cellulose content of the Arabidopsis caspl1 caspl2 mutant. Detergent treatments, ultracentrifugation assays, and enzymatic assays showed that the CSC in the ghcaspl1 ghcaspl2 double mutant showed reduced membrane binding and decreased enzyme activity compared to the wild type. GhCASPL1 binds strongly to phosphatidic acid (PA), which is present in much higher amounts in thickening fiber cells compared to ovules and leaves. Mutating the PA‐binding site in GhCASPL1 resulted in the loss of its colocalization with GhCesA8, and it failed to localize to the plasma membrane. PA may alter membrane structure to facilitate protein–protein interactions, suggesting that GhCASPL1 and PA collaboratively stabilize the CSC. Our findings shed light on CASPL functions and the molecular machinery behind SCW biosynthesis in cotton fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]