Recent Advances in Genetic Improvement of Cotton
Kajal Verma, Pooja Sharma, Kanchan Tripathi, Reena Yadav, Surendra Pratap Singh
Abstract
Cotton ( Gossypium spp.) has an important role in the world economy because of cotton fiber. Cotton fiber is a valuable resource for the textile industry, developed from epidermal ovule cells. Among the 50 species, four ( Gossypium hirsutum , Gossypium barbadense , G. herbaceum , and Gossypium arboretum ) are cultivated for fiber production. Over 90% of cotton worldwide comes from Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ). The genetic improvement of cotton has been ongoing for centuries, but recent advances in genetic engineering and genomics have made this process faster and more efficient. This chapter focuses on the genetic improvement approaches adopted in enhancing cotton fiber quality and yield. Cotton has been the most exploited crop through genetic engineering tools due to the establishment of robust transformation and regeneration protocols. It also harbors the recent updates on the genetic enhancement of cotton through biotechnological interventions for biotic (pest and disease resistance) and abiotic stress (drought, climate resilience, etc.) management and cotton fiber development. It also discusses the role of epigenetics in improving the quality and yield of cotton fiber. Recent technological advances in cotton production have included CRISPR-Cas9, RNA interference (RNAi), marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection, and genetically modified cotton, which have improved productivity, sustainability, and profitability. Information pertaining to the exploitation of the male sterility system in cotton is also detailed in this chapter. In a nutshell, this chapter provides an overview of the recent advancements, impact, strategies, and trends toward sustainable crop improvement of cotton through genetic modification regimes.