@article{Wang2026, 
author = {Yujie Wang and Lu Long and Yanqi Zhang and Kaixuan Wang and Luying Shao and Yingchao Tang and Kun Li and Wei Gao and Jinggong Guo and Salim Al-Babili and Yuchen Miao and Kun-Peng Jia},
title = {Development of a “Golden fiber” cotton germplasm via carotenoid biofortification},
year = {2026},
journal = {The Crop Journal},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {285-288},
keywords = {Colored cotton, Carotenoid biofortification, Golden fiber, β-carotene},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.cj.2025.05.002},
doi = {10.1016/j.cj.2025.05.002},
abstract = {Natural colored cotton (NCC) offers a sustainable, dye-free, and eco-friendly alternative for producing colored textiles. Carotenoids, a group of important natural liposoluble pigments, are known for their diverse color spectrum. In this study, we successfully engineered the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway specifically in cotton fibers by utilizing a fiber-specific GbEXPA2 promoter and a CaMV 35S promoter to drive the expression of two key carotenoid biosynthesis genes, CrtB and CrtI, respectively. This approach resulted in the development of a golden fiber cotton germplasm enriched with β-carotene. Notably, the pigmentation was predominantly observed during the early developmental stages of the fiber (5–20 d post-anthesis). While the presence of carotenoids had no significant effect on plant architecture and growth, it positively influenced the fiber elongation rate, albeit with a slight reduction in fiber length and strength. This study represents a pioneering strategy for the future development of NCCs through carotenoid biofortification.}
}