BACKGROUND: Verticillium dahliae is a phytopathogenic fungal pathogen that causes vascular wilt diseases responsible for considerable decreases in cotton yields. The complex mechanism underlying cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt remains uncharacterized. Identifying an endogenous resistance gene may be useful for controlling this disease. RESULTS: We cloned the ribosomal protein L18 (GaRPL18) gene, which mediates resistance to Verticillium wilt, from a wilt-resistant cotton species (Gossypium arboreum). We then characterized the function of this gene in cotton and Arabidopsis thaliana plants. GaRPL18 encodes a 60S ribosomal protein subunit important for intracellular protein biosynthesis. However, previous studies revealed that some ribosomal proteins are also inhibitory toward oncogenesis and congenital diseases in humans and play a role in plant disease defense. Here, we observed that V. dahliae infections induce GaRPL18 expression. Furthermore, we determined that the GaRPL18 expression pattern is consistent with the disease resistance level of different cotton varieties. GaRPL18 expression is upregulated by salicylic acid (SA) treatments, suggesting the involvement of GaRPL18 in the SA signal transduction pathway. Virus-induced gene silencing technology was used to determine whether the GaRPL18 expression level influences cotton disease resistance. Wilt-resistant cotton species in which GaRPL18 was silenced became more susceptible to V. dahliae than the control plants because of a significant decrease in the abundance of immune-related molecules. We also transformed A. thaliana ecotype Columbia (Col-0) plants with GaRPL18 according to the floral dip method. The plants overexpressing GaRPL18 were more resistant to V. dahliae infections than the wild-type Col-0 plants. The enhanced resistance of transgenic A. thaliana plants to V. dahliae is likely mediated by the SA pathway. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide new insights into the role of GaRPL18, indicating that it plays a crucial role in resistance to cotton “cancer”, also known as Verticillium wilt, mainly regulated by an SA-related signaling pathway mechanism.

Verticillium Wilt Disease is one of the most important diseases affecting the rate of cotton yield. There is no economic chemical control for Verticillium wilt, but it is recommended to use resistant varieties to control this disease. This experiment was carried out in a randomized plot design with four replications in the growth chamber to determine the response of some cotton cultivars against a defoliating and non-defoliating pathotypes of Verticilllium dahliae Kleb. In the study, a total of twenty cotton cultivars i.e. the resistant control GIZA 75, the tolerant control CARMEN and the susceptible control ACALA SJ2, defoliating (PYDV6 isolate) and non-defoliating (Vd 11 isolate) pathotypes were used, and cotton varieties were tested using conidial suspension technique. Analysis of variance showed significantly (P

Cotton bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. malvacearum (Xcm) is one of the most widely distributed and devastating diseases of cotton (Gossypium spp.) worldwide. Twelve Xcm races have been described in the world, with their relative prevalence varying by country. This study aimed to determine the current frequency and distribution of Xcm races in Brazil. Leaves showing cotton blight symptoms were collected from 12 cotton producing areas in the states of Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 92 isolates were collected from surveyed areas. Race identification was performed by injection of bacterial suspensions into 10 differential cotton cultivars (Acala 44, Stoneville 2B-S9, Stoneville 20, Mebane B1, 1-10B, 101- 102B, Gregg 8, Empire B4, PDX P4 and S-295). All Xcm isolates were characterized as race 18, indicating this to be the prevalent race in Brazil.

AIMS: Cotton seeds are frequently treated with acid to remove fibres and reduce seed‐transmitted diseases. This process also eliminates beneficial bacteria on the seed surface. The goal of this research was to seek and apply beneficial bacteria to acid delinted cotton seeds to evaluate their growth‐promoting and salt stress alleviating effects in seedlings. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated from non‐cultivated plants in the Malvaceae. Seeds were collected from Portia tree (Thespesia populnea) and wild cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) from coastal and arid areas of Puerto Rico. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Curtobacterium oceanosedimentum and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans were inoculated onto acid delinted cotton seeds. Bacteria increased cotton seed germination and length of emerging seedling radicles. Cotton seeds were inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens to evaluate growth and root architecture of non‐stressed and salt stressed seedlings. Inoculating cotton seeds with B. amyloliquefaciens led to a greater percentage of seedlings with expanded cotyledons after 8 days, enhanced primary and lateral root growth, and altered root architecture. Similar results were obtained when okra seeds were inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens. CONCLUSION: The data supported the hypothesis that non‐cultivated plants in the Malvaceae growing in stressful environments possess bacteria that promote growth, alter root architecture and alleviate salt stress of cotton and okra seedlings. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrated the effects of applying beneficial bacteria on acid delinted cotton seeds. Inoculating seeds with salt stress alleviating bacteria could improve the growth of crop seedlings that are vulnerable to soil salinization.

As mosquito-borne diseases are increasing continuously throughout the world, mosquito repellent textiles are in demand as a preventive measure for mosquito bites to avoid diseases. In this study, mosquito repellent chemical was prepared by modification of N, N - Diethyl - 3 - methylbenzamide (DEET) and applied on to cotton textiles. As DEET is a well-known mosquito repellent, it is a main ingredient in this modified DEET (MD). Mosquito repellent textiles were prepared by padding cotton fabrics with MD using a conventional pad-dry-cure method. Mosquito repellent activity was evaluated by cage test method wherein a human arm covered with the treated textiles to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes was exposed. Fabrics treated with MD presented a higher and longer lasting protection from mosquitoes assuring over 90% mosquito repellency for unwashed treated fabrics and between70 and 80% for 10 times washed treated fabrics.

Background: To make the plants well adapted and more resistant to diseases and other environmental stresses there is always a need to improve the quality of plant’s genome i.e. to increase its genetic diversity. Methods: In the present study six variety and six lines of cotton were investigated for their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship. For this purpose 35 different RAPD primers obtained from the Gene Link Technologies, USA were used. Results: Among 35 RAPD primers, 13 primers produced reproducible PCR bands while the rest failed to show any amplification product. Our results indicated that the total count of the reproducible bands was 670 and polymorphic loci were counted to be 442 which constitute 66% of total loci. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major groups each consists of 7 and 5 genotypes respectively. Genotypes Lp1 and Tp4 were placed at maximum genetic distance and in separate groups and could be utilized for future cotton breeding. Conclusions: RAPD analysis is a cheaper and time saving technique for the determination of genetic diversity of different cotton genotypes. Cotton genotype Lp1 and Tp4 could be the best candidates for future breeding programs as both genotypes are genetically distant from each other.

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), caused by cotton leaf curl viruses (CLCuVs), is among the most devastating diseases in cotton. While the widely cultivated cotton species Gossypium hirsutum is generally susceptible, the diploid species G. arboreum is a natural source for resistance against CLCuD. However, the influence of CLCuD on the G. arboreum transcriptome and the interaction of CLCuD with G. arboreum remains to be elucidated. Here we have used an RNA-Seq based study to analyze differential gene expression in G. arboreum under CLCuD infestation. G. arboreum plants were infested by graft inoculation using a CLCuD infected scion of G. hirsutum. CLCuD infested asymptomatic and symptomatic plants were analyzed with RNA-seq using an Illumina HiSeq. 2500. Data analysis revealed 1062 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in G. arboreum. We selected 17 genes for qPCR to validate RNA-Seq data. We identified several genes involved in disease resistance and pathogen defense. Furthermore, a weighted gene co-expression network was constructed from the RNA-Seq dataset that indicated 50 hub genes, most of which are involved in transport processes and might have a role in the defense response of G. arboreum against CLCuD. This fundamental study will improve the understanding of virus-host interaction and identification of important genes involved in G. arboreum tolerance against CLCuD.

Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by infection by Verticillium dahliae, is considered one of the most yield‐limiting diseases in cotton. To examine the genetic architecture of cotton VW resistance, we performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) using a panel of 299 accessions and 85 630 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected using the specific‐locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF‐seq) approach. Trait–SNP association analysis detected a total of 17 significant SNPs at P < 1.17 × 10–⁵ (P = 1/85 630, –log₁₀P = 4.93); the peaks of SNPs associated with VW resistance on A10 were continuous and common in three environments (RDIG2015, RDIF2015 and RDIF2016). Haplotype block structure analysis predicted 22 candidate genes for VW resistance based on A10_99672586 with a minimum P‐value (–log₁₀P = 6.21). One of these genes (CG02) was near the significant SNP A10_99672586 (0.26 Mb), located in a 372‐kb haplotype block, and its Arabidopsis AT3G25510 homologues contain TIR‐NBS‐LRR domains that may be involved in disease resistance response. Real‐time quantitative PCR and virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) analysis showed that CG02 was specific to up‐regulation in the resistant (R) genotype Zhongzhimian2 (ZZM2) and that silenced plants were more susceptible to V. dahliae. These results indicate that CG02 is likely the candidate gene for resistance against V. dahliae in cotton. The identified locus or gene may serve as a promising target for genetic engineering and selection for improving resistance to VW in cotton.