Working group session:
Functional Genomics
Presentation type:
poster
Authors:
Liu, Yun-Hua; Zhang, Meiping ; Zhang, Yang; Smith, C. Wayne; Hague, Steve S.; Sze, Sing-Hoi; Zhu, Jun; Frelichowski, James; Zhang, Hong-Bin
Presenter:
Zhang, Hong-Bin
Correspondent:
Zhang, Hong-Bin
Abstract:
Genes are crucial not only to the study of the mechanisms of traits or biological processes that they control, but also to the development of knowledge and tools enabling effectively enhanced plant breeding. However, few genes controlling fiber quality and yield have been cloned and characterized to date. In this study, a newly-developed high-throughput gene and QTL cloning system is used to isolate genes controlling traits important to fiber quality, such as length, strength, uniformity, elongation and micronaire, lint and seed yield, and lint percentage. A total of 474 genes controlling fiber length (GFL) have been cloned. Systems analysis of the genes showed that genes controlling fiber length are involved in a variety of biological processes and metabolic pathways, with each having an effect ranging 2.64% – 7.94%. Of the 474 GFL genes, 88.6% decreased fiber length when turned on or actively expressed, whereas only 11.4% increased fiber length when turned on or actively expressed. Using these newly cloned GFL genes, we have deciphered the molecular basis and regulation mechanisms of cotton fiber length. The cloned GFL genes and the findings resulting from their analysis have provided new knowledge and tools for development of a gene-based breeding system in cotton, which is far more powerful than the currently used marker-assisted selection in plant breeding.