Transgenic Cotton with Improved Fiber Micronaire, Strength, and Length and Increased Fiber Weight
C. H. Haigler, E. F. Hequet, D. R. Krieg, R. E. Strauss, B. G. Wyatt, W. Cai, T. Jaradat, K. Keating, N. G. Srinivas, C. Wu, A. S. Holaday and G. J. Jividen
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ABSTRACT
We set out to use genetic engineering to make cotton crop yield and fiber quality more resistant to cool night temperatures. Cool night temperatures tend to cause lower crop yield and production of immature fibers that have less value to the producer and the textile industry. These effects ultimately depend on hindered synthesis of cellulose when cotton is grown under cool nights. Previous analysis of source (photosynthetic) and sink (fiber cellulose synthesis) metabolism (to be described in the next paper) both implicated one enzyme, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), as a likely candidate for beneficial change.
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