Phenylpropanoid metabolism and pigmentation show divergent patterns between brown color and green color cottons as revealed by metabolic and gene expression analyses

Jiaqi You,Lili Tu,Chunyuan You,Mingqi Xu,Zhonghua Li,Anam Qadir Khan,Xianlong Zhang,Junyi Li,Qian Su

doi:10.1186/s42397-020-00069-x

Jiaqi You, Lili Tu + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-020-00069-x

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Abstract

BackgroundNaturally-colored cotton has become increasingly popular because of their natural properties of coloration, UV protection, flame retardant, antibacterial activity and mildew resistance. But poor fiber quality and limited color choices are two key issues that have restricted the cultivation of naturally-colored cotton. To identify the possible pathways participating in fiber pigmentation in naturally-colored cottons, five colored cotton accessions in three different color types (with green, brown and white fiber) were chosen for a comprehensive analysis of phenylpropanoid metabolism during fiber development.ResultsThe expression levels of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway genes in brown cotton fibers were significantly higher than those in white and green cotton fibers. Total flavonoids and proanthocyanidin were higher in brown cotton fibers relative to those in white and green cotton fibers, which suggested that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway might not participate in the pigmentation of green cotton fibers. Further expression analysis indicated that the genes encoding enzymes for the synthesis of caffeic acid derivatives, lignin and lignan were activated in the developing fibers of the green cotton at 10 and 15 days post-anthesis.ConclusionsOur results strengthen the understanding of phenylpropanoid metabolism and pigmentation in green and brown cotton fibers, and may improve the breeding of naturally-colored cottons.

Highlights

Naturally-colored cotton has become increasingly popular because of their natural properties of coloration, UV protection, flame retardant, antibacterial activity and mildew resistance
In agreement with previous studies, we found that flavonoid metabolism was transcriptionally activated in brown cotton fibers, and high levels of flavonoids were synthesized during fiber development (Figs. 2 and 5)
Our results indicated that the caffeic acid derivatives, and lignin and lignan biosynthesis pathways were activated during the development and coloration of green fibers, which may explain why green fibers have a higher lignan and caffeic acid derivatives contents than white fibers

Summary

Introduction

Naturally-colored cotton has become increasingly popular because of their natural properties of coloration, UV protection, flame retardant, antibacterial activity and mildew resistance. Poor fiber quality and limited color choices are two key issues that have restricted the cultivation of naturally-colored cotton. Naturally-colored cottons (NCC) refer to the types that have naturally-colored lint and (2020) 3:27 conscious consumer products. Accompanied by the growing demands for NCC products, there has been no corresponding increase in its cultivation because of the tight association among natural color and poor fiber quality, low yield (Chen and Cluver 2010; Feng et al 2015; Seṁizer-Cumıng et al 2015; Tu et al 2014). Since brown and green color are two major fiber types in the NCC's production, the corresponding limited color choice has been another major problem inhibiting the large-scale commercialization of NCC products (Blas-Sevillano et al 2018). The chemical basis underpinning NCC colors and the control of the biosynthesis of associated pigments have become key issues in NCC research

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