Ming  Li , Congbiao  You

Tropical Microbial Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Cotton Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 6   doi: 10.5376/cgg.2025.16.0028
Received: 30 Sep., 2025    Accepted: 10 Nov., 2025    Published: 29 Nov., 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.

Li M., and You C.B., 2025, Proteomic response of cotton leaves to verticillium wilt infection, Cotton Genomics and Genetics, 16(6): 278-289 (doi: 10.5376/cgg.2025.16.0028)

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, poses a significant threat to global cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) production, leading to substantial yield and quality losses. In this study, we employed a proteomic approach to investigate the molecular responses of cotton leaves to V. dahliae infection, aiming to elucidate defense mechanisms at the protein level. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analyses, we identified and quantified differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in infected versus healthy cotton leaves, focusing on cultivar CRI 12 as a representative case. The identified DEPs were functionally categorized into defense and stress-related proteins, metabolic reprogramming factors, and signaling regulators, reflecting a complex reorganization of cellular processes in response to infection. Comparative proteomic analysis between susceptible and resistant cultivars revealed distinct defense protein profiles and metabolic adjustments associated with disease resistance. These findings provide insights into the molecular basis of cotton defense against V. dahliae and highlight candidate proteins for breeding and genetic engineering. This study underscores the value of integrative omics approaches in advancing our understanding of cotton-pathogen interactions and paves the way for the development of Verticillium wilt-resistant varieties through proteomic-guided breeding strategies.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum); Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae); Proteomics; Differentially expressed proteins; Disease resistance