From genes to fields: Environmental compatibility of herbicide tolerant transgenic cotton

Abstract

IntroductionThere are several enticing reasons to use genetic engineering to develop transgenic cotton plants with economically relevant new traits. The use of transgenic cotton to protect crops from biotic stressors like weeds may prove to be a cost-effective solution. ObjectivesThe development of herbicide-resistant cotton variants is the primary motivation for gene transfer in this crop. In the current study, we conducted a battery of experiments on the herbicide-tolerant cotton variety MNH-786 to investigate its expression patterns and environmental adaptation. Material and methodsThe 35S promoter controls the expression of the codon-optimized Cp4-EPSPS gene that is present in this variety. Several different molecular approaches, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Florescent In-Situ Hybridization analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are used to confirm the presence of transgenic cotton plants. The glyphosate spray assay was performed using molecular analysis, employing a dosage of 2000 ml per acre. The suitability of transgenic and non-transgenic cotton plants in four unique environments—the Multan, Vehari, Bahawalpur, and Faisalabad Districts of Punjab province, Pakistan was assessed using a comparative comparison. A gene x environment interaction (GEI) biplot was used to analyze the correlation between genes and their environments. ResultsTransgenic cotton plants screened using PCR to target 1.467 kb regions showed effective integration into cotton genomes. Results showed that Cp4-EPSPS proteins fluctuated and associated with environmental variables across all three generations (T0, T1, and T2). In the herbicide spray assay, all transgenic cotton plants survived, but non-transgenic cotton and all weeds died. According to the "which-won-where" polygon, transgenic cotton plant Events 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 performed better in three settings, except Faisalabad. According to correlation and heat-map yield research, transgenic cotton variety MNH-786 Events 4, 5 and 6 have a higher consistency and influence in Vehari district's natural habitats. Multan and Bahawalpur also show encouraging results. In Faisalabad, no transgenic events perform well. ConclusionWe conclude that Events 4 and 5 show a substantial abundance of genetic potential that is robust over a wide range of environments thanks to our thorough study of the outcomes obtained under these conditions. SignificanceOur study emphasises the importance of transgenic cotton, its performance, and its exposure to appropriate agroecological zones. This knowledge can be advantageous for farmers in attaining optimal conditions to maximize productivity.