Figure 1.
Variety of cotton flower colors obtained from the global germplasms collection systems.
Germplasms from the Chinese Crop Germplasm Resources Information System (A) and the National Plant Germplasm System (B), with recorded petal colors, were analyzed. Colors were classified according to the record. Gossypium hirsutum (Gh), G. barbadense (Gb) and G. arboreum (Ga) were the three major cotton species in these systems. The remainders were classified as ‘other’ and mostly contained wild cotton.
Figure 2.
Petal colors change during flower development.
A, flowers from G. hirsutum YZ1, T586 and G. barbadense 3-79 were collected from the field at 11 am, 12 am, 3 pm, and 6 pm on 0 DPA (referred as 0-11, 0-12, 0-15, and 0-18, respectively) and 6 am on 1 DPA (referred as 1-6). B, the anthocyanin contents of these flowers were measured at A530. Three repeats with more than five flowers for each repeat were analyzed. Error bars represent SD.
Figure 3.
Flower color is affected by shade treatment.
A, Phenotypes of YZ1flowers with shade treatment were analyzed from 11 am on 0 DPA (0-11) to 6 am on 1 DPA (1-6). B, the anthocyanin contents for corresponding timepoint flowers were measured at A530. Error bars represent SD with three repeats performed. For each repeat, more than five flowers were analyzed.
Figure 4.
Gene expression analysis of the flavonoids biosynthesis pathway.
Transcripts of PAL (A), CHS (B), F3H (C), DFR (D), ANS (E), UFGT (F), ANR (G) and FLS1 (H) were analyzed by qPCR. Flowers of YZ1 with normal light (L) or in shade treatment (S) were collected from the field at five time points (from 11 am on 0 DPA (0-11) to 6 am on 1 DPA (1-6)). Transcripts were normalized with the expression of UBQ7. Three repeats were performed. Error bars represent SD.
Figure 5.
Anthocyanin analysis of YZ1 and f3h petals.
A, petals of YZ1 and f3h were collected from the field at 0 and 1 DPA. The methanol extract is shown on the right side. Significant color change was observed. B, anthocyanin contents were measured at A530. Error bars represent SD, and three repeats were performed. For each repeat, more than five flowers were analyzed.
Figure 6.
Flower color is affected by light and gene interaction.
A, flowers of f3h lines were analyzed from 11 am on 0 DPA (0-11) to 6 am on 1 DPA (1-6). Flowers that were treated with normal light or shade are indicated by ‘-L’ and ‘-S’, respectively. B, anthocyanin contents for corresponding flowers were measured at A530. Error bars represent SD, and three repeats were performed. For each repeat, more than five flowers were analyzed.
Figure 7.
Gene expression of the flavonoids biosynthesis pathway was affected by both shade and F3H silence.
Transcripts of PAL (A), CHS (B), F3H (C), DFR (D), ANS (E), UFGT (F), ANR (G) and FLS1 (H) were analyzed by qPCR. Flowers of f3h with normal light (L) or in shade treatment (S) were collected from the field at five time points (from 11 am on 0 DPA (0-11) to 6 am on 1 DPA (1-6)). Transcripts were normalized with the expression of UBQ7, and three repeats were performed. Error bars represent SD.