Grafting-induced seed gossypol levels by demethylation of (+)-delta-cadinene synthase genes in upland cotton

Two-year-grafting experiments within and between Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum accessions were conducted to study the source, transfer, and alteration of gossypol and methylation of (+)-δ-cadinene synthase (CDN) genes along with whole chromosomes of A01, A04, A11, D01, D05, and D11, harbouring the cotton CDNs, using the whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) method. The results revealed that although a glandless line used in this study had a low level of gossypol in the seeds, it did not contain any pigment glands, indicating that expression pathways of gland and gossypol were under genetic control of different loci in cotton. Grafts with glandless rootstocks produced significant amounts of total gossypol in the seeds, clearly demonstrating that the source of gossypol biosynthesis was not specific to the root. Heterografts consisting of scion GN, a glandless line, and scion TM-1 grafted on Pima 3-79 rootstocks caused increased total seed gossypol levels whereas homograft TT had decreased total seed gossypol levels. Alteration of total gossypol levels was also associated with gland density, and DNA demethylation levels of (+)-δ-cadinene synthase genes.