Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods

Abstract Background Soil available phosphorus (AP) deficiency significantly limits cotton production, particularly in arid and saline-alkaline regions. Screening cotton cultivars for low phosphorus (P) tolerance is crucial for the sustainable development of cotton production. However, the effect of...

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Main Authors: Miao Sun, Helin Dong, Huimin Han, Weina Feng, Jingjing Shao, Feichao Huo, Pengcheng Li, Cangsong Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Cotton Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00212-6
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author Miao Sun
Helin Dong
Huimin Han
Weina Feng
Jingjing Shao
Feichao Huo
Pengcheng Li
Cangsong Zheng
author_facet Miao Sun
Helin Dong
Huimin Han
Weina Feng
Jingjing Shao
Feichao Huo
Pengcheng Li
Cangsong Zheng
author_sort Miao Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Soil available phosphorus (AP) deficiency significantly limits cotton production, particularly in arid and saline-alkaline regions. Screening cotton cultivars for low phosphorus (P) tolerance is crucial for the sustainable development of cotton production. However, the effect of different growth media on the screening outcomes remains unclear. To address this, we evaluated the low P tolerance of 25 cotton cultivars through hydroponic culture at two P levels (0.01 and 0.5 mmol•L−1 KH2PO4) in 2018 and field culture with two P rates (0 and 90 kg•hm−2, in P2O5) in 2019. Results In the hydroponic experiments, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that shoot dry weight (SDW) and P utilization efficiency in shoots (PUES) of cotton seedlings explained over 45% of the genetic variation in P nutrition. Cotton cultivars were subjected to comprehensive cluster analysis, utilizing agronomic traits (SDW and PUES) during the seedling stage (hydroponic) and yield and fiber quality traits during the mature stage (in field). These cultivars were grouped into four clusters: resistant, moderately resistant, moderately sensitive, and sensitive. In low P conditions (0.01 mmol•L−1 KH2PO4 and 4.5 mg•kg−1 AP), the low-P-resistant cluster showed significantly smaller reductions in SDW (54%), seed cotton yield (3%), lint yield (− 2%), fiber length (− 1%), and fiber strength (− 3%) compared with the low-P-sensitive cluster (75%, 13%, 17%, 7%, and 9%, respectively). The increase in PUES (299%) in the resistant cluster was also significantly higher than in the sensitive cluster (131%). Four of the eight low-P-tolerant cotton cultivars identified in the field and six in the hydroponic screening overlapped in both screenings. Two cultivars overlapped in both screening in the low-P-sensitive cluster. Conclusion Based on the screenings from both field and hydroponic cultures, ZM-9131, CCRI-79, JM-958, and J-228 were identified as low-P-tolerant cotton cultivars, while JM-169, XM-33B, SCRC-28, and LNM-18 were identified as low-P-sensitive cotton cultivars. The relationship between field and hydroponic screening results for low-P-tolerant cotton cultivars was strong, although field validation is still required. The low P tolerance of these cultivars was closely associated with SDW and PUES.
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spelling doaj-art-db447756b91c4184a52dc6dd6df5569f2025-08-20T03:05:50ZengBMCJournal of Cotton Research2523-32542025-03-018111310.1186/s42397-025-00212-6Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methodsMiao Sun0Helin Dong1Huimin Han2Weina Feng3Jingjing Shao4Feichao Huo5Pengcheng Li6Cangsong Zheng7State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background Soil available phosphorus (AP) deficiency significantly limits cotton production, particularly in arid and saline-alkaline regions. Screening cotton cultivars for low phosphorus (P) tolerance is crucial for the sustainable development of cotton production. However, the effect of different growth media on the screening outcomes remains unclear. To address this, we evaluated the low P tolerance of 25 cotton cultivars through hydroponic culture at two P levels (0.01 and 0.5 mmol•L−1 KH2PO4) in 2018 and field culture with two P rates (0 and 90 kg•hm−2, in P2O5) in 2019. Results In the hydroponic experiments, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that shoot dry weight (SDW) and P utilization efficiency in shoots (PUES) of cotton seedlings explained over 45% of the genetic variation in P nutrition. Cotton cultivars were subjected to comprehensive cluster analysis, utilizing agronomic traits (SDW and PUES) during the seedling stage (hydroponic) and yield and fiber quality traits during the mature stage (in field). These cultivars were grouped into four clusters: resistant, moderately resistant, moderately sensitive, and sensitive. In low P conditions (0.01 mmol•L−1 KH2PO4 and 4.5 mg•kg−1 AP), the low-P-resistant cluster showed significantly smaller reductions in SDW (54%), seed cotton yield (3%), lint yield (− 2%), fiber length (− 1%), and fiber strength (− 3%) compared with the low-P-sensitive cluster (75%, 13%, 17%, 7%, and 9%, respectively). The increase in PUES (299%) in the resistant cluster was also significantly higher than in the sensitive cluster (131%). Four of the eight low-P-tolerant cotton cultivars identified in the field and six in the hydroponic screening overlapped in both screenings. Two cultivars overlapped in both screening in the low-P-sensitive cluster. Conclusion Based on the screenings from both field and hydroponic cultures, ZM-9131, CCRI-79, JM-958, and J-228 were identified as low-P-tolerant cotton cultivars, while JM-169, XM-33B, SCRC-28, and LNM-18 were identified as low-P-sensitive cotton cultivars. The relationship between field and hydroponic screening results for low-P-tolerant cotton cultivars was strong, although field validation is still required. The low P tolerance of these cultivars was closely associated with SDW and PUES.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00212-6CottonHydroponic cultureField cultureLow phosphorus toleranceYieldFiber quality
spellingShingle Miao Sun
Helin Dong
Huimin Han
Weina Feng
Jingjing Shao
Feichao Huo
Pengcheng Li
Cangsong Zheng
Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
Journal of Cotton Research
Cotton
Hydroponic culture
Field culture
Low phosphorus tolerance
Yield
Fiber quality
title Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
title_full Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
title_fullStr Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
title_full_unstemmed Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
title_short Screening cotton cultivars for low-phosphorus tolerance: a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
title_sort screening cotton cultivars for low phosphorus tolerance a comparison of hydroponic and field methods
topic Cotton
Hydroponic culture
Field culture
Low phosphorus tolerance
Yield
Fiber quality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42397-025-00212-6
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