Ļć½¶Ö±²„

Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”AĀ new study from a Ļć½¶Ö±²„ faculty member and colleaguesĀ fromĀ around theĀ worldĀ shares new insights into the genomic similarities between wild and domesticatedĀ cotton, information that can helpĀ improve resistance to adverse conditions in theĀ crop.Ā 

The study was published Monday [AprilĀ 20] in . Among the authors is Daniel Peterson, director ofĀ MSUā€™s Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology (IGBB) and a professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.Ā In the study,Ā PetersonĀ and other authors describe theĀ geneticĀ sequencing and comparison of all five AD polypoid cottonĀ species, which includes the two main species of commercial cotton grown worldwideĀ and threeĀ wildĀ cotton speciesĀ that do not produce the long white seed fibers that are of significant economicĀ value.Ā 

The team found that genomic differences in the five species areĀ fairly subtle, making the genetic sequencing of non-commercial cotton important to understanding ways to improve resistance in commercial cotton species.Ā WithĀ the agricultural commodityĀ supporting 100 millionĀ familiesĀ aroundĀ the world and producing anĀ annual economic impact estimated at $500 billion,Ā Peterson saidĀ the advancement in genomic sequencing forĀ both theĀ commercial and non-commercial species will benefit growersĀ as they adapt toĀ potential environmental changes.Ā 

ā€œHaving high-quality genome sequences for the AD polyploids will be of special importance when it comes to utilizing non-commercial polyploid sequence data to improve upland and Pima cottons, which account for 95 percent of the worldā€™sĀ commercialĀ cotton production,ā€ Peterson said. ā€œSuch improvements include producing commercial cotton lines with resistance to bacterial, viral,Ā and fungal diseases. Also, it is critical that we develop productive cotton lines with resistance to conditions expected to accompany climate change such as drought, floodingĀ and temperature extremes.ā€Ā 

Peterson has played a key role in advancing understanding of cotton genomes, havingĀ co-authoredĀ the publication describing the first reference-quality cotton genome sequenceĀ in 2012.Ā In 2015, Peterson was co-author on the paper describing the sequence of upland cotton.Ā 

The Nature Genetics studyĀ isĀ the result of collaboration between researchers from theĀ HudsonAlphaĀ InstituteĀ for Biotechnology,Ā University of Texas at Austin,Ā U.S. Department of Agricultureā€™s Agricultural Research Service,Ā Nanjing AgriculturalĀ andĀ Zhejiang A&FĀ universities in China,Ā and Alcorn State, Clemson,Ā Texas A&MĀ and Iowa State universities.Ā The work was supported by grants from the National Science FoundationĀ andĀ U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cotton Incorporated.Ā 

ā€œThe results described in this Nature Genetics publication will facilitate deeper understanding of cotton biology and lead to higher yield and improved fiber while reducing input costs,ā€ said Don Jones, director of agricultural research at Cotton Incorporated. ā€œGrowers, the textile industryĀ and consumers will derive benefit from this high impact science for years to come.ā€Ā 

MSUā€™s Institute for Genomics, BiotechnologyĀ and Biocomputing leads multi-disciplinary projects focused on understanding the biomolecular interactions underlying the diversity, value and sustainability of species of agricultural, medical, bioenergy,Ā and ecological importance. For more, visitĀ .ĢżĢż

The Ļć½¶Ö±²„Department of Plant and Soil Sciences is part of the universityā€™s College of AgricultureĀ and Life Sciences. For more, visitĀ .ĢżĢż

Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiā€™sĀ leadingĀ university, available onlineĀ atĀ .