Abstract
Although cotton genic male sterility (GMS) plays an important role in the utilization of hybrid vigor, its precise molecular mechanism remains unclear. To characterize the molecular events of pollen abortion, transcriptome analysis, combined with histological observations, was conducted in the cotton GMS line, Yu98-8A. A total of 2,412 genes were identified as significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) before and during the critical pollen abortion stages. Bioinformatics and biochemical analysis showed that the DEGs mainly associated with sugars and starch metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and plant endogenous hormones play a critical and complicated role in pollen abortion. These findings extend a better understanding of the molecular events involved in the regulation of pollen abortion in genic male sterile cotton, which may provide a foundation for further research studies on cotton heterosis breeding.
Highlights
Cotton, an economically important crop cultivated in more than 80 countries around the world, is the most important natural source of fiber for textiles and relatively high-quality protein and oil [1]
Genic male sterility (GMS), which is one of the two pollination control systems in plants, has been widely exploited in the utilization of hybrid vigor based on its unique advantages
During meiosis stages, especially at the point of tetrad formation (MS: 2.5–3.0 mm, MF: 2.8–3.3 mm), compared to the normal tetrad of wild-type and pollen (Fig 1d and 1e), Yu98-8A showed a shriveled tetrad and no spinescent protuberances on the pollen wall (Fig 1D and 1E)
Summary
An economically important crop cultivated in more than 80 countries around the world, is the most important natural source of fiber for textiles and relatively high-quality protein and oil [1]. Cotton heterosis has the potential of increasing yield from 10% to 20%, and has substantially remained as one of the significant developments in cotton breeding programs. Morphological [2,3], biochemical [4,5], and molecular aspects of cotton male abortion mechanism continues to be a highly interesting research area [6,7,8]. Genic male sterility (GMS), which is one of the two pollination control systems in plants, has been widely exploited in the utilization of hybrid vigor based on its unique advantages. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0133425 September 18, 2015
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