β-tubulin is the basic structural unit of cotton fiber, regulates fiber cell morphogenesis, and plays a vital role in fiber development. But there is less understood how β-tubulin gene influenced the distinct characteristic of fiber quality traits in cotton. In this study, members of the β-tubulin gene family were identified in cotton, their expression profiles were analyzed, and role of β-tubulin genes were explored for fiber quality.

BLAST method was used to identify members of the β-tubulin gene family in the genomes of four cotton species. ProtParam tool was utilized to analyze physicochemical properties, MEGA7.0 to construct phylogenetic tree, Mapchart2.2 to draw chromosomal localization map, MEME to analyze conserved motif, and PlantCARE to analyze promoter cis-acting elements. Expression levels of β-tubulin genes were characterized by using transcriptome data from 39 studies on fiber development. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify candidate genes for fiber quality traits.

Importantly, 36, 37, 19 and 18 β-tubulin genes were identified in the genomes of Gossypium hirsutum (AD₁), Gossypium barbadense (AD₂), Gossypium arboretum (A₂) and Gossypium raimondii (D₅), respectively. The number of β-tubulin genes in tetraploid cotton species is almost double than that of diploid cotton species. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into 5 main clusters. Phylogenetic and collinearity analysis revealed that β-tubulin genes in Gossypium barbadense is closely related to Gossypium arboretum and Gossypium raimondii as compared to Gossypium hirsutum. Furthermore, all genes have typical conservative domains with Tubulin and Tubulin-C. The genes physicochemical properties showed amino acids range from 421 to 508 with isoelectric point of 4.68 to 5.09. The analysis of promoter cis-acting elements identified growth responsive, hormone responsive, and stress responsive elements which showed β-tubulin mediates various mechanisms of cell growth regulation. Interestingly, cluster analysis on 36 β-tubulin gene expression profiles showed 42% genes in cluster П had dominant expression in fiber. In particular, 1, 6, and 11 β-tubulin genes exhibited significant correlation with fiber micronaire value, fiber strength, and fiber length, respectively. Four genes were found to influence fiber length and fiber strength traits simultaneously.

A total of 110 β-tubulin gene family members were identified in the four cotton species. Their physicochemical properties and sequences of amino acids were highly conserved and the promoter sequence had diverse regulatory elements. This study characterized the expression profiles as well as molecular function of β-tubulin gene family in cotton fiber. Further discovered the potential candidate genes that probably regulate fiber quality traits in cotton. Our results may have great potential for cotton fiber quality improvement by genetic engineering.

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) genetic transformation faces series of challenges such as a prolonged cycle and low efficiency, with the relatively slow proliferation rate of callus tissue being a critical factor contributing to the extended transformation period. This study aims to investigate the optimal light conditions for upland cotton callus growing. The establishment of this research endeavor is poised to accelerate callus proliferation and ultimately provide a technical foundation for shortening the period of cotton genetic transformation.

The hypocotyls of the upland cotton line WC were used as explants to induce callus tissues under four different lights: red, blue, red-blue (1:1), and white light (CK). The study aimed to investigate the varied effects of the different lights on callus induction and proliferation, determine the optimal light condition by comparing with the callus proliferation rate, morphological characteristics et al. under different light treatments.

Different light treatments had a significant impact on the callus induction and growth. The red-blue light treatment exhibited a most positive effect on both callus inducing and proliferation, which observed on the 7th and 15th day. The fresh weight of callus at 7 d under the red-blue light (0.39 g) was the heaviest, followed by the blue light (0.34 g), then the white light (0.24 g) and the red light (0.23 g). The same fresh weight order of the callus was observed at 15 d, with the treatment of the red-blue light (1.15 g) > blue light (0.98 g) > white light (0.69 g) > red light (0.51 g). The callus weight under red-blue light was 1.65 times heavier than the control, increased by 16.5% and 125.5% compared to the treatment of only blue or red light, respectively. In line with this, the callus proliferation rate in the second week under red-blue light was as high as 14.67%, which is twice to that of the red-light treatment (7.17%). The expression level of those genes promoted to cell proliferation and somatic embryo regeneration was consistent with the phenotype, the highest level was under the red-blue light treatment. Furthermore, the activity of the catalase (CAT) was significantly increased under the red-blue light treatment, while the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was lower than control.

Employing different light conditions could result in the varied proliferation rate of cotton callus. The optimal light treatment is by red-blue light in a 1∶1 ratio, followed by blue light and then white light. However, employing red light only does not favor the callus growth. The treatment of red-blue light (1∶1) induces the expression of phytochromes and cryptochromes in the callus, increases the expression level of those genes promoted to callus growth. It also enhances the activity of catalase, reduces the content of ROS, and finally promotes the callus proliferation.