Impact of potassium deficiency on cotton growth, development and potential microRNA-mediated mechanism

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of potassium deficiency on cotton seedling growth and development at the individual, physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Potassium is an important plant nutrient; our results show that potassium deficiency significantly affected cotton seedling growth and development, evidenced by reduced plant height, and total areas of the leaves and roots as well as further reduced both fresh and dry biomass of the entire plants. Potassium deficiency also significantly inhibited root and leaf respiration and leaf photosynthesis. Compared with the controls, potassium deficiency significantly inhibited root elongation and total root surface areas that further inhibited cotton seedlings to uptake nutrients from the medium. Potassium deficiency induced aberrant expression of both microRNAs (miRNAs) and their protein-coding targets. These miRNAs regulate plant root development as well as response to abiotic stresses. Potassium deficiency altered the expression of miRNAs that regulate the expression of protein-coding genes controlling root development and response to potassium deficiency. miRNAs regulate root development and further control plant development in cotton seedlings under potassium deficiency. In summary, potassium deficiency significantly affected the cotton seedling photosynthesis and respiration that resulted in inhibition of cotton seedling growth and development potentially due to the miRNA-mediated mechanism.