Authors
Yuanxue Li, Yuhuan Xiao, Chao Fu, Ying Liu, Nian Wang, Zixin Zhao, Zhiyong Xu, Ningyu Yang, Xianlong Zhang, Zhongxu Lin
Published in
Plant communications. Pages 102126. Oct 05, 2026. Epub Oct 05, 2026.
Abstract
Lint percentage (LP) is a core determinant of cotton yield. Here, we systematically characterized the evolutionary impacts and molecular mechanisms of GhFLA9_D12 on fiber development. Population genomics revealed a significant selective sweep at the locus, where the superior haplotype HapA (T/INS) correlates with higher LP and underwent continuous selection during modern breeding. This favorable variation was likely introgressed from G. barbadense into G. hirsutum. Mechanistically, GhFLA9_D12 regulates fiber development via divergent expression and protein functions. Transcriptionally, a 162-bp InDel in promoter mediates differential activation by GhAGL11, determining allele-specific expression. Biochemically, GhFLA9_D12 is secreted to the cell wall, binding polysaccharides (β-glucan, xylans, and pectins) to modulate plasticity. Crucially, a non-synonymous coding mutation alters its polysaccharide-binding preference. Consequently, overexpressing distinct alleles yields contrasting phenotypes in fiber strength and cell wall thickness, highlighting the role of allelic variation in fine-tuning cell wall architecture. Furthermore, GhFLA9_D12 undergoes essential glycosylation through interactions with prolyl 4-hydroxylase (GhP4H) and galactosyltransferase 1 (GhGalT1). In summary, this study elucidates how natural variations of GhFLA9_D12 orchestrate cell wall plasticity to determine LP, which advance our understanding of plant cell wall biosynthesis and provide elite genetic resources for synergistically improving cotton yield and quality.
PMID:
42834558
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Oct 2026.
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