Proteomics of Cotton Fiber Development

Abstract

Cotton is one of the major sources for natural fiber with strong commercial relevance. Now a day, there is a substantial demand for the extra-long, strong and fine cotton fibres are the major choices of modern textile industry. The most efficient way to improve fiber quality is through breeding. However, it is a big challenge for cotton breeders to develop a cultivar having good fiber quality along with higher yield because a negative genetic correlation widely exists between quality and yield. However, complete draft genome sequence of cotton is now available, but functional genomic studies remain in their infancy, as this exhibit genetic constrains like recalcitrance and complex genome. Proteomics is an established complementary tool to genomics provides a powerful tool for functional analysis of cotton fiber productivity. In this review, a special emphasis is given to cotton fiber proteomics in response to fiber biogenesis, fiber quality and fiber colour that will give a better understanding for molecular basis of acquisition of fiber developmental mechanism. Various biological and molecular pathways that are mostly carried out and controlled by proteins guide this dynamic process of cotton fibre development. An integrating proteome data with genome information from cotton will provide exciting outcome for high quality fiber and yield to attain long-term goals of cotton sustainable production.