Jiamin  Wang , Shujuan Wang

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Cotton Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 1   
Received: 09 Dec., 2024    Accepted: 14 Jan., 2025    Published: 23 Jan., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cotton fiber elongation, a key factor in fiber quality and yield, is regulated by a complex network of phytohormones. Auxin, gibberellins (GAs), brassinosteroids (BRs), ethylene, and peptide hormones promote elongation, while cytokinin and abscisic acid (ABA) act as inhibitors. Key transcription factors such as GhMYB212, GhHOX3, and GhBES1.4 drive fiber growth through hormone signaling and sucrose transport regulation. Crosstalk between hormones, such as auxin-BR and GA-strigolactone interactions, further optimizes fiber elongation. Emerging insights into lipid metabolism (e.g., GhLTP4) and peptide hormones (e.g., GhPSK) reveal additional mechanisms enhancing fiber quality. Future efforts should focus on targeted genetic engineering, hormone pathway optimization, and integrating multi-omics approaches to develop high-quality, resilient cotton varieties, ensuring sustainable production for the textile industry.

Cotton fiber elongation; Plant hormonal regulation; Gibberellins (GAs); Brassinosteroids (BRs); Genetic engineering and breeding