9257 Tissue-Specific and Developmental Analysis of Gossypol and Related Terpenoids in Cotton Plants Engineered to Knock-Down d-Cadinene Synthase Activity in a Seed-Specific Manner

Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Salon H (Marriott Rivercenter Hotel)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Salon H (Marriott Rivercenter Hotel)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Salon H (Marriott Rivercenter Hotel)
Ganesan Sunilkumar1, Sabarinath Sundaram1, LeAnne M. Campbell1, Keerti S. Rathore1, Lorraine S. Puckhaber2 and Robert D. Stipanovic2, (1)Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, (2)USDA-ARS-SPARC, College Station, TX
We utilized RNA interference (RNAi) to disrupt a key step in the biosynthesis of gossypol in a seed-specific manner in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.; Sunilkumar et al. 2006, PNAS 103: 18054-18059).  Targeted engineering of the gossypol biosynthetic pathway by interfering with the expression of the δ-cadinene synthase gene during seed development resulted in a significant reduction in cottonseed-gossypol levels.  This trait, based on RNAi-mediated silencing, is heritable and was found to be stable over many generations in several lines.  We have begun a systematic study of gossypol and related terpenoids in relation to tissue-specificity and plant development.  In addition, these plants are being examined for their response to various pathogens.  We are also comparing the low seed-gossypol, RNAi lines with antisense lines as well as with a traditionally bred, Acala-type glandless variety.   Results from these analyses and their significance will be presented.