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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Plant Physiology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363938
Research Project: Molecular Genetic and Proximal Sensing Analyses of Abiotic Stress Response and Oil Production Pathways in Cotton, Oilseeds, and Other Industrial and Biofuel Crops

Location: Plant Physiology and Genetics Research

Title: Quantification of leaf wax and cutin monomer composition in Pima (Gossypium barbadense) and upland (G. hirsutum L.) cotton

Author
item Tomasi, Pernell
item Herritt, Matthew
item JENKS, MATTHEW - University Of Arizona
item Thompson, Alison

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2021
Publication Date: 5/27/2021
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7402066
Citation: Tomasi, P., Herritt, M.T., Jenks, M., Thompson, A.L. 2021. Quantification of leaf wax and cutin monomer composition in Pima (Gossypium barbadense) and upland (G. hirsutum L.) cotton. Industrial Crops and Products. 169. Article 113670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113670.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113670

Interpretive Summary: This is the first reported study of cuticular wax and cutin monomer composition on Pima (G. barbadense) and upland (G. hirsutum) cotton germplasm and reveals significant species and genotype differences in leaf wax and cutin monomer amount and composition. Further studies are needed to investigate the response to long- and short-term drought in the induction of cuticular wax and cutin synthesis, and its association with cotton drought and pest tolerance, and commercial fiber production. Because of this work, five lines were selected as breeding parents, PF-15, Giza 70, VH-260, GA2010102, and Ark 0712-9, toward development of more drought tolerant cotton, and to identify quantitative trait loci associated with cuticular wax and cutin production.

Technical Abstract: Climatological drought is a historic problem that limits agricultural production worldwide. Reducing transpirational water loss can conserve soil moisture and confer drought tolerance to crops by delaying their dehydration during periods of drought stress. Transpiration can be regulated by the hydrophobic plant cuticle, which coats the aerial surfaces of plants and limits water loss through non-stomatal transpiration. The cuticle is composed primarily of two lipid classes, free cuticular wax components and the polymerized cutin polyester. Many studies suggest that both waxes and cutin are important in maintaining plant water status during periods of drought. Five varieties of Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense) and six varieties of upland cotton (G. hirsutum) were examined for variation in leaf wax and cutin composition. Wax and cutin monomers were analyzed using an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph and a 5975C mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Results show that upland cotton produces more total wax than Pima varieties, whereas Pima cotton produces more total cutin than upland varieties. In both species, alcohols were the most abundant wax compounds and dihydroxy monobasic acids were the most abundant cutin monomers.