How cotton fibers elongate: a tale of linear cell-growth mode

Cotton fibers (cotton lint) are single-celled trichomes that differentiate from the ovule epidermis. Unidirectional and fast-growing cells generally expand at the dome-shaped apical zone (tip-growth mode); however, previous studies suggest that elongating fiber cells expand via a diffuse-growth mode. Tip-localized Ca2+ gradient and active secretary vesicle trafficking are two important phenomena of tip-growth. Recently, a high Ca2+ gradient is found in the cytoplasm of fast-elongating cotton fiber cells near the growing tip. Several protein coding genes participating in vesicle coating and transport are highly expressed in elongating fiber cells. Taken together with the observation that ethylene acts as a positive regulator for cotton fiber and several Arabidopsis tissues that are known to elongate via tip growth prompted us to propose a linear-growth mode for similar cell types.

Research highlights▶ A Ca2+ gradient exists nearing the tip of fast-elongating cotton fibers. ▶ Genes coding for vesicle secretion is highly expressed in elongating fiber cells. ▶ Ethylene acts as a positive regulator for cotton fiber elongation. ▶ Ethylene is a common mediator of linear cell-growth mode.