Dynamic roles of small RNAs and DNA methylation associated with heterosis in allotetraploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

BACKGROUND: Heterosis is a complex phenomenon wherein the hybrids outperform their parents. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanism by which hybridization leads to higher yields in allopolyploid cotton is critical for effective breeding programs. Here, we integrated DNA methylation, transcriptomes, and small RNA profiles to comprehend the genetic and molecular basis of heterosis in allopolyploid cotton at three developmental stages. RESULTS: Transcriptome analysis revealed that numerous DEGs responsive to phytohormones (auxin and salicylic acid) were drastically altered in F1 hybrid compared to the parental lines. DEGs involved in energy metabolism and plant growth were upregulated, whereas DEGs related to basal defense were downregulated. Differences in homoeologous gene expression in F1 hybrid were greatly reduced after hybridization, suggesting that higher levels of parental expression have a vital role in heterosis. Small RNAome and methylome studies showed that the degree of DNA methylation in hybrid is higher when compared to the parents. A substantial number of allele-specific expression genes were found to be strongly regulated by CG allele-specific methylation levels. The hybrid exhibited higher 24-nt-small RNA (siRNA) expression levels than the parents. The regions in the genome with increased levels of 24-nt-siRNA were chiefly related to genes and their flanking regulatory regions, demonstrating a possible effect of these molecules on gene expression. The transposable elements correlated with siRNA clusters in the F1 hybrid had higher methylation levels but lower expression levels, which suggest that these non-additively expressed siRNA clusters, reduced the activity of transposable elements through DNA methylation in the hybrid. CONCLUSIONS: These multi-omics data provide insights into how changes in epigenetic mechanisms and gene expression patterns can lead to heterosis in allopolyploid cotton. This makes heterosis a viable tool in cotton breeding.

The influence of cooking process on the microwave-assisted extraction of cottonseed oil.

Cooking process is one of the most energy and time consuming steps in the edible oil extraction factories. The main goal of this study was cottonseed oil extraction by microwave radiation and elimination of any heat treatment of cottonseeds before extraction. The effect of cooking process on the physicochemical properties of extracted oil from two varieties of cottonseed (Pak and Sahel) was evaluated by free fatty acid content, melting point, smoke point and refractive index. Our results didn't show any significant differences between cooked and uncooked samples (P > 0.05) regarding physicochemical characteristics. From GC analysis of extracted oils, it was found there is no significant difference in fatty acid composition of cooked, uncooked and control (conventional extraction) samples. The thermal stability (Rancimat) analysis of oil samples showed the cooking process could cause a slight increase in the stability of oils for both varieties (about 40 min). The cooking process also increased total extracted phenolic compounds and considerably decreased total gossypol content of the cottonseed oil; but the extraction efficiency didn't change considerably after elimination of the cooking process. It can be concluded that microwave rays can destroy the structure of oil cells during process and facilitate the oil extraction without any heat treatment before extraction.

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of cottonseed oil and evaluation of its oxidative stability and physicochemical properties.

Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) is a novel method, which can reduce the extraction time and solvent consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of MAE on oxidative stability and physicochemical properties of cottonseed oil. We found that the optimum extraction conditions were: irradiation time 3.57 min; cottonseed moisture content 14% and cottonseed to solvent ratio 1:4, which resulted in an extraction efficiency of 32.6%, 46 ppm total phenolic content, 0.7% free fatty acids, peroxide value of 0.2 and 11.5 h of Rancimat oxidative stability at 110 °C. GC analysis for MAE cottonseed oil determined palmitic acid (23.6%), stearic acid (2.3%), oleic acid (15.6%) and linoleic acid (55.1%), which were not significant different (P>0.05) than conventionally-extracted (control) cottonseed oil. MAE oil samples from whole cottonseed (without dehulling) had the greatest long-term stability, more than oil samples containing BHT.