@article{zhu_andres_zhang_kuraparthy_2021, title={High-density linkage map construction and QTL analysis of fiber quality and lint percentage in tetraploid cotton}, volume={7}, ISSN={["1435-0653"]}, DOI={10.1002/csc2.20519}, abstractNote={Abstract Improving fiber quality and yield are major research objectives for cotton breeders in the United States. Identifying broadly existing and stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to fiber quality is critical to properly utilizing genomic resources in cotton improvement programs. An F 6 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of NC05AZ21 × TX‐2324 was used to develop linkage maps and for QTL analysis of six fiber quality traits and lint percentage. The Illumina 63K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array was used to genotype the RIL population. Analysis of variance of phenotypic trait data showed significant differences among lines and years for all traits tested. The heritability for tested traits ranged from 0.56 to 0.91. Genetic mapping was performed using 3,009 polymorphic SNP markers on the RILs. We constructed a genetic map with a total length of 4,983.73 cM and an average distance of 1.66 cM between markers. The linkage map corresponded well with the Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) sequence‐based physical map. Thirty‐two QTLs with additive effects for lint percentage and fiber quality traits were identified on 15 chromosomes, explaining 7.9–22.2% of the phenotypic variance. The majority of these QTLs were mapped in the D subgenome, indicating that functional mutations in the D subgenome are responsible for the major fiber quality improvements in Upland cotton. Furthermore, five QTL clusters were located on four chromosomes (Chr.05, Chr.18, Chr.19, and Chr.26), which may explain the strong correlation between fiber quality traits measured. The QTLs identified in the current study could be targeted for marker‐assisted selection and map‐based cloning of fiber quality traits in Upland cotton.}, journal={CROP SCIENCE}, author={Zhu, Linglong and Andres, Ryan J. and Zhang, Kuang and Kuraparthy, Vasu}, year={2021}, month={Jul} }
 @article{zhang_kuraparthy_fang_zhu_sood_jones_2019, title={High-density linkage map construction and QTL analyses for fiber quality, yield and morphological traits using CottonSNP63K array in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)}, volume={20}, ISSN={["1471-2164"]}, url={https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/36765240/}, DOI={10.1186/s12864-019-6214-z}, abstractNote={Abstract Background Improving fiber quality and yield are the primary research objectives in cotton breeding for enhancing the economic viability and sustainability of Upland cotton production. Identifying the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fiber quality and yield traits using the high-density SNP-based genetic maps allows for bridging genomics with cotton breeding through marker assisted and genomic selection. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, derived from cross between two parental accessions, which represent broad allele diversity in Upland cotton, was used to construct high-density SNP-based linkage maps and to map the QTLs controlling important cotton traits. Results Molecular genetic mapping using RIL population produced a genetic map of 3129 SNPs, mapped at a density of 1.41 cM. Genetic maps of the individual chromosomes showed good collinearity with the sequence based physical map. A total of 106 QTLs were identified which included 59 QTLs for six fiber quality traits, 38 QTLs for four yield traits and 9 QTLs for two morphological traits. Sub-genome wide, 57 QTLs were mapped in A sub-genome and 49 were mapped in D sub-genome. More than 75% of the QTLs with favorable alleles were contributed by the parental accession NC05AZ06. Forty-six mapped QTLs each explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variation. Further, we identified 21 QTL clusters where 12 QTL clusters were mapped in the A sub-genome and 9 were mapped in the D sub-genome. Candidate gene analyses of the 11 stable QTL harboring genomic regions identified 19 putative genes which had functional role in cotton fiber development. Conclusion We constructed a high-density genetic map of SNPs in Upland cotton. Collinearity between genetic and physical maps indicated no major structural changes in the genetic mapping populations. Most traits showed high broad-sense heritability. One hundred and six QTLs were identified for the fiber quality, yield and morphological traits. Majority of the QTLs with favorable alleles were contributed by improved parental accession. More than 70% of the mapped QTLs shared the similar map position with previously reported QTLs which suggest the genetic relatedness of Upland cotton germplasm. Identification of QTL clusters could explain the correlation among some fiber quality traits in cotton. Stable and major QTLs and QTL clusters of traits identified in the current study could be the targets for map-based cloning and marker assisted selection (MAS) in cotton breeding. The genomic region on D12 containing the major stable QTLs for micronaire, fiber strength and lint percentage could be potential targets for MAS and gene cloning of fiber quality traits in cotton.}, number={1}, journal={BMC GENOMICS}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Zhang, Kuang and Kuraparthy, Vasu and Fang, Hui and Zhu, Linglong and Sood, Shilpa and Jones, Don C.}, year={2019}, month={Nov} }
 @article{zhu_kuraparthy_2019, title={Rapid Isolation of Loss-of-Function Mutations for Dominant Traits: A Case Study Using Photoperiod Sensitivity Trait in Pima Cotton}, volume={59}, ISSN={["1435-0653"]}, DOI={10.2135/cropsci2019.02.0133}, abstractNote={In its natural state, cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a perennial that flowers only under short-day conditions. Early selection efforts eliminated this photoperiod requirement, allowing cotton cultivation to shift predominantly to annual growth under long summer daylengths throughout the world. Photoperiod sensitivity persists in many wild cottons and remains a major barrier to the introgression of beneficial alleles into elite breeding material. Identification of the variation and genetic factors underlying photoperiod response in cotton is needed to fully harness the genetic diversity of wild cotton and broaden the cultivated germplasm pool. Genetic variants, especially loss-of-function mutations in dominant genes conferring photoperiod sensitivity, would be highly valuable in this regard. After mutagenizing pima cotton (G. barbadense L.) seeds heterozygous for the major photoperiod response gene Gb_Ppd1 with γ rays, we identified plants no longer sensitive to photoperiod. Genetic analysis of BC₁F₁ plants derived from backcrossing the mutants with their photoperiod-insensitive parent confirmed the loss-of-function mutations were allelic with Gb_Ppd1. Characterization of the mutants with molecular markers confirmed that all but one were deletions of Gb_Ppd1. Further, genotyping localized Gb_Ppd1 to a 12-Mb region on chromosome D10. The newly identified genomic region and loss-of-function mutants may help assist with the identification and functional validation of candidate genes for photoperiod response in cotton, facilitating the valuable introgression of genetic diversity into cotton breeding programs.}, number={5}, journal={CROP SCIENCE}, author={Zhu, Linglong and Kuraparthy, Vasu}, year={2019}, pages={2028–2035} }
 @article{fang_bowman_zhang_zhu_jones_kuraparthy_2019, title={Registration of Four Germplasm Lines of Upland Cotton with High Fiber Quality}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1940-3496"]}, url={https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/31419926/}, DOI={10.3198/jpr2019.02.0005crg}, abstractNote={Four upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm lines, NC18‐11 (Reg. no. GP‐1056, PI 690771), NC18‐12 (Reg. no. GP‐1057, PI 690772), NC18‐13 (Reg. no. GP‐1058, PI 690773), and NC18‐14 (Reg. no. GP‐1059, PI 690774), were developed by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University. These four cotton lines had improved fiber quality traits and exhibited 915.5 to 1180.9 kg ha −1 lint yield. All four lines were derived from a random mated population using multiple parental lines. The four lines were compared with commercial cultivars ‘DP393’, ‘Sure‐Grow 747’, and ‘UA48’ over 2 yr using a replicated randomized complete block design in Clayton, NC. Lines NC18‐11, NC18‐12, and NC18‐13 had significantly ( p = 0.05) better micronaire values than the checks and significantly higher strength values (8.3–25.3%) than DP393, Sure‐Grow 747, and the parental lines. These three lines also had significantly ( p = 0.05) greater upper half mean length values (4.9–11.6%) than DP393 and Sure‐Grow 747. Germplasm line NC18‐14 had a 15.4 to 62.5% significantly ( p = 0.05) higher fiber elongation value than all checks and parental lines and showed 5.0 to 12.8% more lint fraction than the checks. These lines could be additional sources of genetic variability for cotton breeding programs focusing on improving fiber quality traits while still producing more than 900 kg ha −1 of lint.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF PLANT REGISTRATIONS}, author={Fang, Hui and Bowman, Daryl T. and Zhang, Kuang and Zhu, Linglong and Jones, Don C. and Kuraparthy, Vasu}, year={2019}, month={Sep}, pages={401–405} }
 @article{li_an_angelovici_bagaza_batushansky_clark_coneva_donoghue_edwards_fajardo_et al._2018, title={Topological Data Analysis as a Morphometric Method: Using Persistent Homology to Demarcate a Leaf Morphospace}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, url={https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/12063358/}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2018.00553}, abstractNote={Current morphometric methods that comprehensively measure shape cannot compare the disparate leaf shapes found in seed plants and are sensitive to processing artifacts. We explore the use of persistent homology, a topological method applied as a filtration across simplicial complexes (or more simply, a method to measure topological features of spaces across different spatial resolutions), to overcome these limitations. The described method isolates subsets of shape features and measures the spatial relationship of neighboring pixel densities in a shape. We apply the method to the analysis of 182,707 leaves, both published and unpublished, representing 141 plant families collected from 75 sites throughout the world. By measuring leaves from throughout the seed plants using persistent homology, a defined morphospace comparing all leaves is demarcated. Clear differences in shape between major phylogenetic groups are detected and estimates of leaf shape diversity within plant families are made. The approach predicts plant family above chance. The application of a persistent homology method, using topological features, to measure leaf shape allows for a unified morphometric framework to measure plant form, including shapes, textures, patterns, and branching architectures.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Li, Mao and An, Hong and Angelovici, Ruthie and Bagaza, Clement and Batushansky, Albert and Clark, Lynn and Coneva, Viktoriya and Donoghue, Michael J. and Edwards, Erika and Fajardo, Diego and et al.}, year={2018}, month={Apr} }
 @article{andres_coneva_frank_tuttle_samayoa_han_kaur_zhu_fang_bowman_et al._2017, title={Modifications to a LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1 gene are responsible for the major leaf shapes of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)}, volume={114}, DOI={10.1101/062612}, abstractNote={Leaf shape is spectacularly diverse. As the primary source of photo-assimilate in major crops, understanding the evolutionary and environmentally induced changes in leaf morphology are critical to improving agricultural productivity. The role of leaf shape in cotton domestication is unique, as breeders have purposefully selected for entire and lobed leaf morphs resulting from a single locus, okra (L-D1). The okra locus is not only of agricultural importance in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), but through pioneering chimeric and morphometric studies it has contributed to fundamental knowledge about leaf development. Here we show that the major leaf shapes of cotton at the L-D1 locus are controlled by a HD-Zip transcription factor most similar to Late Meristem Identity1 (LMI1) gene. The classical okra leaf shape gene has133-bp tandem duplication in the promoter, correlated with elevated expression, while an 8-bp deletion in the third exon of the presumed wild-type normal leaf causes a frame-shifted and truncated coding sequence. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of this LMI1-like gene in an okra variety was sufficient to induce normal leaf formation. An intermediate leaf shape allele, sub-okra, lacks both the promoter duplication and the exonic deletion. Our results indicate that sub-okra is the ancestral leaf shape of tetraploid cotton and normal is a derived mutant allele that came to predominate and define the leaf shape of cultivated cotton.}, number={1}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, author={Andres, R. J. and Coneva, V. and Frank, M. H. and Tuttle, J. R. and Samayoa, L. F. and Han, S. W. and Kaur, B. and Zhu, L. L. and Fang, Hui and Bowman, D. T. and et al.}, year={2017}, pages={E57–66} }
 @article{zhu_kuraparthy_2014, title={Molecular genetic mapping of the major effect photoperiod response locus in Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)}, volume={54}, number={6}, journal={Crop Science}, author={Zhu, L. L. and Kuraparthy, V.}, year={2014}, pages={2492–2498} }