Only a few transcription factors (TFs) regulating which cells of the ovule epidermis differentiate into lint fibres have been identified in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). In this study, the effect on lint yield and fibre quality of over-expressing three TFs in cotton, GhHD-1, GhMYB25 and GhMYB25Like, and their double and triple combinations, were evaluated in field experiments over two seasons. The expression of single or stacked TFs were all driven either by an ovule-specific promoter, FBP 7, or a constitutive promoter, Stunt 7, in a Coker 315 background. TF type, either singly or in combination, was found to be the most significant factor affecting lint yield. Among 64 transgenic lines tested, seven were higher yielding than null segregant lines in one or both seasons and were all from the sets with single and double over-expressed TF combinations. A reduced yield was associated with the set of triple combinations. The two most stable high yielding lines across the seasons recorded 12–22% higher yields than the nulls, although were not competitive to locally adapted commercial controls. Over-expression of TFs singly or in combination did not significantly alter fibre length and strength, but sometimes increased fibre micronaire. There were positive relationships between lint yield and lint percentage and lint yield and fibre density amongst the transgenic lines. Our preliminary results suggest that manipulating TF expression, either singly or in pairs, can increase the density of fibres initiated on developing seeds and fibre yields under field conditions while maintaining overall fibre quality.

在棉花 ( Gossypium hirsutum L. ) 中仅鉴定出少数转录因子 (TF) 来调节胚珠表皮的哪些细胞分化为棉绒纤维。在这项研究中，在两个季节的田间试验中评估了在棉花中过表达三种 TF，GhHD-1、GhMYB25和GhMYB25Like及其双重和三重组合对皮棉产量和纤维品质的影响。单个或堆叠 TF 的表达均由胚珠特异性启动子FBP 7或组成型启动子Stunt 7 驱动，在 Coker 315 背景中。发现单独或组合的 TF 类型是影响皮棉产量的最重要因素。在测试的 64 个转基因品系中，有 7 个在一个或两个季节中的产量高于无效分离品系，并且全部来自具有单双过表达 TF 组合的组。降低的产量与三重组合的集合相关。整个季节中两条最稳定的高产品系的产量比无效品系高 12-22%，尽管与当地适应的商业控制相比没有竞争力。TFs 单独或组合过表达不会显着改变纤维长度和强度，但有时会增加纤维马克隆值。转基因品系的皮棉产量和皮棉百分比以及皮棉产量和纤维密度之间存在正相关关系。