title: Direct visualization of horizontal gene transfer in cotton plants.
abstract: Plant mitochondrial and chloroplast genes that underwent horizontal transfer have been identified by parasite and grafting systems, respectively. Here, we directly observed 3 horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events in the 45 second axillary shoots of grafted cotton plants (Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum) after extirpating the first axillary bud. The second axillary shoots showed phenotypic variations in cotton flowers and seeds that were evidence of spontaneous development from cells in the grafting site. As the progeny segregated and did not show stable inheritance across 3 generations, inheritance of traits in our study differed from the stable heredity of HGT plants in previous studies. In those studies, plants were artificially regenerated from the graft junctions, and inheritance involved only the movement of chloroplast DNA or genomic material between cells. Our findings may provide a feasible method to enhance plant breeding and the study of HGT.
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Southern Region of North China of Agriculture Ministry, Plant Protection Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China (Hao); the Zhengzhou Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Zhengzhou 450000, China (Jia); the Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China (Yu); and the Henan Seed Management Station, Zhengzhou 450047, China (Deng). haojjds@163.com henancorn@163.com.
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Southern Region of North China of Agriculture Ministry, Plant Protection Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China (Hao); the Zhengzhou Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Zhengzhou 450000, China (Jia); the Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China (Yu); and the Henan Seed Management Station, Zhengzhou 450047, China (Deng).
authors.forename: Xinhe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Southern Region of North China of Agriculture Ministry, Plant Protection Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China (Hao); the Zhengzhou Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Zhengzhou 450000, China (Jia); the Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China (Yu); and the Henan Seed Management Station, Zhengzhou 450047, China (Deng).
authors.forename: Jiwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Southern Region of North China of Agriculture Ministry, Plant Protection Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China (Hao); the Zhengzhou Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Zhengzhou 450000, China (Jia); the Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China (Yu); and the Henan Seed Management Station, Zhengzhou 450047, China (Deng). haojjds@163.com henancorn@163.com.
authors.forename: Shizheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D018742:DNA, Chloroplast / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics*; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D010641:Phenotype; D012639:Seeds / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
chemical_list: D018742:DNA, Chloroplast; D018744:DNA, Plant
keywords: axillary bud; grafting cotton; horizontal gene transfer