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Superior leaf physiological performance contributes to sustaining the final yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes under terminal heat stress

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Abstract

This study aimed to optimize methods for identifying heat-tolerant and heat-susceptible cotton plants by examining the relationship between leaf physiology and cotton yield. Cotton accessions were exposed to elevated temperatures through staggered sowing and controlled growth conditions in a glasshouse. Based on their yield performance, leaf physiology, cell biochemistry, and pollen germination, the accessions were categorized as heat-tolerant, moderately tolerant, or susceptible. High temperatures had a significant impact on various leaf physiological and biochemical factors, such as cell injury, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence, and enzyme activities. The germination of flower pollen and seed cotton yield was also affected. The study demonstrated that there was a genetic variability for heat tolerance among the tested cotton accessions, as indicated by the interaction between accession and environment. Leaf gas exchange, cell biochemistry, pollen germination, and cotton yield were strongly associated with heat-sensitive accessions, but this association was negligible in tolerant accessions. Principal component analysis was used to classify the accessions based on their performance under heat stress conditions. The findings suggest that leaf physiological traits, cell biochemistry, pollen germination, and cotton yield can be effective indicators for selecting heat-tolerant cotton lines. Future research could explore additional genetic traits for improved selection and development of heat-tolerant accessions.

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Abbreviations

CMT:

Cell membrane thermostability

Fv/Fm:

Chlorophyll fluorescence

EC:

Electrical conductivity

P n :

Net photosynthetic rate

RCI:

Relative cell injury

GS:

Stomatal conductance

SCY:

Seed cotton yield

E:

Transpiration rate

PG:

Pollens germination

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

POD:

Peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

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Acknowledgements

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and Dongguk University, South Korea, financially supported this report. The writers are very grateful for providing technical support University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, and Dongguk University, South Korea. Dongguk University, South Korea, and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), financially supported this report. The writers are very grateful for providing technical support of Dongguk University, South Korea, and University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Funding

MK for Dongguk university support fund 2022–24.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Sarwar & Muhammad Farrukh Saleem

  2. Agricultural Research Station, Office of VP for Research and Graduate Studies, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar

    Najeeb Ullah

  3. Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, PO Box 1054, Mareeba, QLD, 4880, Australia

    Asjad Ali

  4. College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4814, Australia

    Brian Collins

  5. Agronomic Research Station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

    Muhammad Shahid

  6. Agronomic Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Kashif Munir

  7. Department of Life Science, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul, 10326, Korea

    Sang-Min Chung & Manu Kumar

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  1. Muhammad Sarwar
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Contributions

MK, MFS, MS, and NU planned and designed the research protocol; MS carried out the experiment and collected and analyzed samples. MK, and MKM, supervised the study and organized and analyzed data. MK, NU, MFS, BC, and AA technically supported the research and wrote the manuscript. MK acquires funding.

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Correspondence to Manu Kumar.

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Sarwar, M., Saleem, M.F., Ullah, N. et al. Superior leaf physiological performance contributes to sustaining the final yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes under terminal heat stress. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 29, 739–753 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-023-01322-8

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