cotton-genomics
Cotton genomics is the study of the complete genetic makeup of cotton plants, including the sequencing, mapping, and functional analysis of their genomes. Understanding cotton's complex polyploid genome enables researchers to identify genes controlling fiber quality, stress tolerance, and yield, accelerating the development of improved varieties. These genomic insights also shed light on broader plant evolutionary processes, such as polyploidization and gene duplication, with implications across crop science.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-06
Scientists identified 104 copies of a plant growth gene called YUCCA across four cotton species and showed that one key version, GhYUC19, controls how tall cotton grows, how it branches, and whether its flowers form correctly. The findings open doors for breeding or engineering cotton with improved architecture and yield.
104 YUCCA auxin-biosynthesis genes were identified across four cotton species and grouped into four evolutionary clusters with highly conserved structures
Overexpressing GhYUC19 in a model plant increased plant height and caused downward-curling leaves, but shrank fruit size and sharply reduced fertility
Silencing GhYUC19 in cotton via gene knockdown produced flowers with missing petals and fewer stamens, confirming its essential role in floral organ formation
