Cotton metabolism regulatory network: Unraveling key genes and pathways in fiber development and growth regulation

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the world's most important commercial crops. However, the dynamics of metabolite abundance and potential regulatory networks throughout its life cycle remain poorly understood. In this study, we developed a cotton metabolism regulatory network (CMRN) that spans various developmental stages and encompasses 2138 metabolites and 90 309 expressed genesin upland cotton. By integrating high-resolution spatiotemporal metabolome and transcriptome data, we identified 1958 differentially accumulated metabolites and 13 597 co-expressed differentially expressed genes between the dwarf mutant pagoda1 and its wild-type counterpart Zhongmiansuo 24. These metabolites and genes were categorized into seven clusters based on tissue-specific accumulation patterns and gene expression profiles across different developmental stages. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed significant differential enrichment in the fatty acid elongation pathway, particularly in fibers. The differential involvement of genes and metabolites in very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) synthesis led to the identification of GhKCS1b_Dt as a key gene. Overexpression of GhKCS1b_Dt significantly promoted fiber elongation, while its silencing markedly inhibited cotton fiber growth, affirming its positive regulatory role in fiber elongation. This dataset provides a valuable resource for further research into metabolic pathways and gene regulatory networks, offering novel insights for advancing cotton breeding strategies.