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1. Monitoring cotton water status with microtensiometers

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-024-00930-w  

   Christenson, Clay G; Gohardoust, Mohammad R; Calleja, Sebastian; Thorp, Kelly R; Tuller, Markus; Pauli, Duke (April 2024, Irrigation Science)

   Abstract Stem water potential (Ψ_stem) is a key indicator for assessing plant water status, which is crucial in understanding plant health and productivity. However, existing measurement methods for Ψ_stem, characterized by destructiveness and intermittency, limit its applicability. Microtensiometers, an emerging plant-based sensor, offer continuous monitoring capabilities and have shown success in certain vine and tree species. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of microtensiometers ability to monitor the Ψ_stemof cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) under three distinct irrigation treatments in Maricopa, Arizona, an extremely hot, arid environment. We analyze the diurnal dynamics of Ψ_stemacross the irrigation regimes and compare these measurements with midday leaf water potentials (Ψ_leaf) obtained using a dewpoint potentiometer. Our results demonstrate that the microtensiometer-derived Ψ_stemclosely follows known diurnal patterns of Ψ_leaf, tracking with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and responding to variations in irrigation levels and soil moisture content. Time cross-correlation analysis reveals an 80-minute lag in Ψ_stemresponse to changing VPD under non-water limiting conditions, which shortens under water-limiting conditions. Additionally, we establish a robust linear relationship (R²_adj = 0.82) between Ψ_stemand Ψ_leaf, with this relationship strengthening as water availability decreases. Notably, we observe mean gradients of 1.2 and 0.06 MPa between soil vs. stem and stem vs. leaf water potentials, respectively. Moreover, Ψ_stemdata proves to be more sensitive in distinguishing between irrigation treatments earlier in the growing season compared to Ψ_leaf, leaf temperature and leaf gas exchange parameters. These findings highlight the utility of microtensiometers as valuable tools for monitoring water status in smaller-stemmed row crops such as cotton. 

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2. From Sequencing to Genome Editing for Cotton Improvement

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.09.001  

   Peng, Renhai; Jones, Don C; Liu, Fang; Zhang, Baohong (March 2021, Trends in Biotechnology)
3. Thermochemical degradation of cotton fabric under mild conditions

   https://doi.org/10.1186/s40691-021-00263-8  

   Cuiffo, Michael; Jung, Hye Jung; Skocir, Asta; Schiros, Theanne; Evans, Emily; Orlando, Elizabeth; Lin, Yu-Chung; Fang, Yiwei; Rafailovich, Miriam; Kim, Taejin; et al (August 2021, Fashion and Textiles)

   Abstract Textile waste presents a major burden on the environment, contributing to climate change and chemical pollution as toxic dyes and finishing chemicals enter the environment through landfill leachate. Moreover, the majority of textile waste reaching landfills is discarded clothing, which could be reused or recycled. Here we investigate environmentally benign morphology changing of cotton textiles as a precursor for reintegration into a circular materials economy. At 50 °C using low concentrations of acids and bases, the interfiber structures of woven cotton were successfully degraded when treated with the following sequence of chemical treatment: citric acid, urea, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and sodium nitrate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal separation of the constituent fibers without depolymerization of the cellulose structure, and streaming potential measurements indicate that surface charge effects play a key role in facilitating degradation. The proposed reaction procedures show feasibility of effective waste-fabric recycling processes without chemically intensive processes, in which staple fibers are recovered and can be re-spun into new textiles. 

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4. Soil biodegradation of cotton fabrics treated with common finishes

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03666-w  

   Smith, Soshana; Ozturk, Mehmet; Frey, Margaret (May 2021, Cellulose)
5. In defense of Huxley

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2024.09.005  

   Walcott, Sam; Sun, Sean; Debold, Edward P; Herzog, Walter (October 2024, Biophysical Journal)