Integrative physiological, biochemical, and proteomic analysis of the leaves of two cotton genotypes under heat stress

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316630
• Publication Date: 2025-01-09T18:43:02Z
• Authors: Asia Perveen; Sheheryar Sheheryar; Fiaz Ahmad; Ghazala Mustafa; Arlindo Alencar M...; Francisco A. P. C...; Gilberto B. Domont; Umar Nishan; Riaz Ullah; Mohamed A. Ibrahim; Fábio C. S. Nogueira; Mohibullah Shah
• Keywords: Carbohydrate Metabolism

Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.), a crucial global fibre and oil seed crop faces diverse biotic abiotic stresses. Among these, temperature stress strongly influences its growth, prompting adaptive physiological, biochemical, molecular changes. In this study, we explored the proteomic changes underscoring heat tolerance in leaves of two locally developed cotton genotypes, i.e., tolerant (GH-Hamaliya H tol ) susceptible (CIM-789 sus ), guided by morpho-physiological biochemical analysis. These genotypes were sown at different temperatures, control (35°C) (45°C), glasshouse, randomized complete block design (RCBD) three replications. At flowering stage, label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics revealed differential expression 701 1270 proteins compared to control, respectively. Physiological analysis showed that heat-tolerant genotype responded uniquely maintaining net photosynthetic rate Pn (25.2–17.5 μmolCO 2 m -2 S -1 chlorophyll (8.5–7.8mg/g FW), proline contents (4.9–7.4 μmole/g) supported upregulation many involved several pathways, including photosynthesis, oxidoreductase activity, response stresses, translation, transporter activities, as well protein carbohydrate metabolic processes. contrast, distinctive pattern downregulation response, metabolism was observed plants. To best our knowledge, is first study on has identified more than 8000 with an array differentially expressed responsive treatment could serve potential markers breeding programs after further experimentation.