Polyploidy-mediated variations in glutamate receptor proteins linked to Fusarium wilt resistance in upland cotton

Cotton production in the US faces a serious threat from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4), a soil-borne fungus causing Fusarium wilt by infecting the roots and vascular system of susceptible cotton, leading to rapid wilting and death. Here, we investigate genetic mechanisms of resistance to FOV4 in the highly resistant upland cotton genotype "U1" using an early-generation segregating biparental population ("U1" × "CSX8308") with comprehensive genomic resources. Reference-grade genomic assemblies of the parents revealed minor structural variations between "U1" haplotypes, a high degree of collinearity at chromosome synteny and micro-synteny levels, and significant divergence from "CSX8308" with 8.9 million SNPs. QTL analysis identified significant markers on chromosomes D03 and A02 linked to reduced Fusarium wilt severity. Within these regions, two glutamate-receptor-like (GLR) genes showed structural variation and overlapped between translocated segments on A02 and D03, suggesting a rare but important reinforcing effect of parallel evolution between susceptible and resistant genotypes. Transcriptome profiles of "U1" under FOV4 infection reveal activation of calcium-binding proteins and transcription factors regulating plant hormones (ethylene, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid), along with enzymes involved in cell wall remodeling and phytoalexin production. Advancing cotton improvement depends on incorporating durable genetic disease resistance into high-yielding, high-quality cultivars.