The GATA5-GhFBA1_At-KNAT7 module regulates fruit branch angle and high-density yield by controlling cell expansion and cell wall thickness in cotton.
Xu Z, Fu C, Le Y, Chen M, Li Y
Crispr
Cotton fields packed tighter together can yield more fiber per acre without clearing new land — and the same gene-editing logic could eventually be applied to reshape the architecture of other crops crowding out your raised beds.
Cotton plants normally spread their branches outward at wide angles, which limits how close together farmers can plant them. Researchers found a single gene that controls this branch angle — when the gene is active, branches spread wide and cell walls stay thin and flexible; when it's turned off, the plant grows more upright and compact. By using a precise gene-editing tool to switch off this gene, they grew denser cotton fields with better overall yields.
Key Findings
A major genetic region (qFBA-A11) controlling fruit branch angle was mapped in cotton, and the responsible gene GhFBA1_At was identified through positional cloning
GhFBA1_At promotes wide branch angles by inhibiting a protein called KNAT7, which reduces cell wall thickness and weakens mechanical support in branch tissue
CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of GhFBA1_At produced compact plant architecture and measurably higher cotton yield under high-density planting conditions
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists discovered a gene in cotton that controls how wide the branches spread outward from the plant. By editing this gene with CRISPR, they created more compact cotton plants that produce higher yields when grown in dense plantings.
Abstract Preview
Enhancing cotton yield remains a paramount breeding objective. Given limited arable land, increasing planting density is an effective strategy to boost cotton yield. However, the genetic basis of p...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Chloroplast Genome Editing Eliminates Gluten Immunogenicity in Triticum aestivum
It could mean that people with celiac disease — roughly 1 in 100 worldwide — may one day safely eat bread made from real wheat, without sacrificing the taste...
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose and may contain minor percentages of waxes, fats, pectins, and water. Under natural condi...