Auxin and brassinosteroid synergically regulate cotton fiber elongation

Cotton fiber elongation is a complex developmental process regulated by hormonal and metabolic signals. Auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) and brassinosteroid (BR) play crucial roles in cotton fiber development, but the mechanism by which they coordinate to regulate fiber elongation remains unclear. In this study, we determined that IAA levels gradually increase during fiber development and are higher in long-fiber varieties. In vitro ovule culture experiments revealed that IAA promotes fiber elongation in a dose-dependent manner. Transcriptome analysis showed that IAA activates BR biosynthesis and the BR signaling pathway, implying crosstalk between the two hormones. Interestingly, IAA could partially rescue fiber elongation caused by BR deficiency due to brassinazole treatment and in pag1 mutants, and BR supplementation partially alleviated fiber inhibition resulting from impaired IAA transport or IAA deficiency. However, neither hormone fully compensated for the absence of the other, indicating that both serve non-redundant roles in fiber elongation. Additionally, inhibiting glucose signaling by suppressing hexokinase activity through N-acetylglucosamine impaired fiber growth, but this could be rescued by exogenous application of either IAA or BR, suggesting that glucose acts upstream of IAA and BR, which cooperatively regulate the elongation of cotton fibers.