LIN-11, Isl1 and MEC-3 (LIM)-domain proteins play pivotal roles in a variety of cellular processes in animals, but plant LIM functions remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate dual roles of the WLIM1a gene in fiber development in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). WLIM1a is preferentially expressed during the elongation and secondary wall synthesis stages in developing fibers. Overexpre...

Fe deficiency causes significant losses to crop productivity and quality. To understand better the mechanisms of plant responses to Fe deficiency, we used an in vitro cotton ovule culture system. We found that Fe deficiency suppressed the development of ovules and fibers, and led to tissue browning. RNA-seq analysis showed that the myo-inositol and galacturonic acid pathways were activated and ...

With cotton fiber growth or maturation, cellulose content in cotton fibers markedly increases. Traditional chemical methods have been developed to determine cellulose content, but it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, mostly owing to the slow hydrolysis process of fiber cellulose components. As one approach, the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy...

Cotton is the bulkiest sink of natural textile fiber and a main oilseed crop, with extensive scientific, environmental, and socio-economic footsteps. Cotton fiber is a highly elongated seed hair with a secondary wall composed of almost pure cellulose. Development of cotton fibers is positively affected by a number of phytohormones including auxin, gibberellins and brassinosteroids (BRs) [1,2]. ...

The roles of non-cellulosic polysaccharides in cotton fiber development are poorly understood. Combining glycan microarrays and in situ analyses with monoclonal antibodies, polysaccharide linkage analyses and transcript profiling, the occurrence of heteromannan and heteroxylan polysaccharides and related genes in developing and mature cotton (Gossypium spp.) fibers has been determined. Comparat...

This thesis examines the capability of current techniques in fiber classification such as UV-visible microspectrophotometry (MSP) (for dye in situ and/or extracted) to discriminate between fibers from sources known to be different. When these methods fail to adequately distinguish the fibers, novel alternative techniques, such as pulsed pumped laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) and l...

The application of Fourier Transform (FT) spectroscopy instruments has broadened the knowledge and capabilities of textile researchers to study a host of projects including surface modifications of cotton fibers to impart flame retardant capabilities, monitoring aging effects on ancient cellulosic artifacts (Kavkler et al., 2011; Lojewski et al., 2010), determining the amount of dye fixation to...