Expression studies of stress responsive genes in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L.

Cotton is the world’s richest source of natural fiber. Meanwhile cotton plant is top ranked stress sensitive plant thereby affecting its yield and fiber quality. But, in climate change scenario, fiber yield and quality are being affected due to environmental stresses, especially heat, drought and salinity. Present study is aimed to identify cotton genotype harboring prominently expressed stress responsive genes. Four cotton genotypes (IUB-13, IUB-222, IUB-09 and MM-58) were evaluated under drought and salinity stress for yield traits and expression of different stress responsive genes (GhWRKY3, GhDREB2 and GhRDR6). Pronounced expression of GhWRKY3, GhDREB2and GhRDR6 was observed in cotton variety IUB-13 in stress condition (drought and salinity) as compared to control followed by IUB-222 which revealed that these genotypes might possess substantial potential to cope with environmental hazards encountered in growing season Utilization of cotton genotypes i.e., IUB-13 and IUB-222 in cotton breeding program can be very much fruitful for developing cotton genotypes adoptable to climate change.