Zhou Chaoze, Huang Yiwen, Zhou Dayu, Wu Yuzhen, Fu Shouyang, Huang Longyu, Peng Jun, Kuang Meng
National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 45500, China.
Sanya National Nan Fan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572024, China.
Food Chem (Oxf). 2025 Jun 25;11:100270. doi: 10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100270. eCollection 2025 Dec.
The protein and oil content in cottonseed, known for their high quality, exhibits substantial variation across different cotton varieties. This study explored the regulatory mechanisms behind these differences by analyzing protein and oil accumulation patterns, transcriptomics, and metabolomics in two cotton varieties during seed development. Results showed that protein and oil rapidly accumulated between 15 and 30 days post-anthesis (DPA), but significant differences between varieties emerged after 40 DPA. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 40 DPA were enriched in carbon allocation, fatty acid degradation, and nitrogen absorption pathways. Metabolomics identified lipids, lipid-like molecules, and organic acids as key differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Furthermore, the gene , associated with nitrogen source absorption, was identified. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of this gene in cotton resulted in a significant reduction in protein content in the roots, stems, and leaves. These findings provide insights into protein and oil accumulation and offer genetic resources for improving cottonseed nutritional quality.
棉籽中的蛋白质和油含量以高品质著称，在不同棉花品种间存在显著差异。本研究通过分析两个棉花品种种子发育过程中的蛋白质和油积累模式、转录组学和代谢组学，探索了这些差异背后的调控机制。结果表明，蛋白质和油在花后15至30天迅速积累，但在花后40天品种间出现显著差异。花后40天的差异表达基因（DEG）在碳分配、脂肪酸降解和氮吸收途径中富集。代谢组学确定脂质、类脂分子和有机酸为关键差异积累代谢物（DAM）。此外，还鉴定了与氮源吸收相关的基因。该基因在棉花中的病毒诱导基因沉默（VIGS）导致根、茎和叶中的蛋白质含量显著降低。这些发现为蛋白质和油的积累提供了见解，并为改善棉籽营养品质提供了遗传资源。
