Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of CMS-D2 and CMS-D8 Systems Characterizes Fertility Restoration Genes Network in Upland Cotton

Resolving the genetic basis of fertility restoration for cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) can improve the efficiency of three-line hybrid breeding. However, the genetic determinants of male fertility restoration in cotton are still largely unknown. This study comprehensively compared the full-length...

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Main Authors: Xiatong Song, Meng Zhang, Kashif Shahzad, Xuexian Zhang, Liping Guo, Tingxiang Qi, Huini Tang, Hailin Wang, Xiuqin Qiao, Juanjuan Feng, Yang Han, Chaozhu Xing, Jianyong Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/13/10759
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Summary:Resolving the genetic basis of fertility restoration for cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) can improve the efficiency of three-line hybrid breeding. However, the genetic determinants of male fertility restoration in cotton are still largely unknown. This study comprehensively compared the full-length transcripts of CMS-D2 and CMS-D8 systems to identify potential genes linked with fertility restorer genes <i>Rf<sub>1</sub></i> or <i>Rf<sub>2</sub></i>. Target comparative analysis revealed a higher percentage of differential genes in each restorer line as compared to their corresponding sterile and maintainer lines. An array of genes with specific expression in the restorer line of CMS-D2 had functional annotations related to floral development and pathway enrichments in various secondary metabolites, while specifically expressed genes in the CMS-D8 restorer line showed functional annotations related to anther development and pathway enrichment in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Further analysis identified potentially key genes located in the target region of fertility restorer genes <i>Rf<sub>1</sub></i> or <i>Rf<sub>2</sub>.</i> In particular, <i>Ghir_D05G032450</i> can be the candidate gene related to restorer gene <i>Rf<sub>1</sub></i>, and <i>Ghir_D05G035690</i> can be the candidate gene associated with restorer gene <i>Rf<sub>2</sub></i>. Further gene expression validation with qRT-PCR confirmed the accuracy of our results. Our findings provide useful insights into decoding the potential regulatory network that retrieves pollen fertility in cotton and will help to further reveal the differences in the genetic basis of fertility restoration for two CMS systems.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067