Degradation of de-esterified pctin/homogalacturonan by the polygalacturonase GhNSP is necessary for pollen exine formation and male fertility in cotton.

ABSTRACT: The pollen wall exine provides a protective layer for the male gametophyte and is largely composed of sporopollenin, which comprises fatty acid derivatives and phenolics. However, the biochemical nature of the external exine is poorly understood. Here, we show that the male sterile line 1355A of cotton mutated in NO SPINE POLLEN (GhNSP) leads to defective exine formation. The GhNSP locus was identified through map-based cloning and confirmed by genetic analysis (co-segregation test and allele prediction using the CRISPR/Cas9 system). In situ hybridization showed that GhNSP is highly expressed in tapetum. GhNSP encodes a polygalacturonase protein homologous to AtQRT3, which suggests a function for polygalacturonase in pollen exine formation. These results indicate that GhNSP is functionally

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9129075 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature