AUTHOR=Razzaq Abdul , Zafar Muhammad Mubashar , Li Pengtao , Qun Ge , Deng Xiaoying , Ali Arfan , Hafeez Abdul , Irfan Muhammad , Liu Aiying , Ren Maozhi , Shang Haihong , Shi Yuzhen , Gong Wankui , Yuan Youlu 

TITLE=Transformation and Overexpression of Primary Cell Wall Synthesis-Related Zinc Finger Gene Gh_A07G1537 to Improve Fiber Length in Cotton

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.777794

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.777794

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Molecular interventions have helped to explore the genes involved in fiber length, fiber strength, and other quality parameters with improved characteristics, particularly in cotton. The current study is an extension and functional validation of previous findings that <italic>Gh_A07G1537</italic> influences fiber length in cotton using a chromosomal segment substitution line MBI7747 through RNA-seq data. The recombinant <italic>Gh_A07G1537</italic> derived from the MBI7747 line was over-expressed in CCRI24, a genotype with a low profile of fiber quality parameters. Putative transformants were selected on MS medium containing hygromycin (25mg/ml), acclimatized, and shifted to a greenhouse for further growth and proliferation. Transgene integration was validated through PCR and Southern Blot analysis. Stable integration of the transgene (Δ<italic>Gh_</italic>A07G1537) was validated by tracking its expression in different generations (T<sub>0</sub>, T<sub>1</sub>, and T<sub>2</sub>) of transformed cotton plants. It was found to be 2.97-, 2.86-, and 2.92-folds higher expression in T<sub>0</sub>, T<sub>1</sub>, and T<sub>2</sub> plants, respectively, of transgenic compared with non-transgenic cotton plants. Fiber quality parameters were also observed to be improved in the engineered cotton line. Genetic modifications of Gh<italic>_A07G1537</italic> support the improvement in fiber quality parameters and should be appreciated for the textile industry.</p>