Methods and compositions for modulating gossypol content in cotton plants

Abstract

The present disclosure provides cotton plants with reduced gossypol levels in the seed, and in further embodiments provides cotton plants with increased gossypol levels in the leaves. Also provided are methods for reducing gossypol content in seeds of a cotton plant by down-regulation of CGF2 expression, and in certain embodiments CGF1 and/or CGF3 expression, in the plant, and methods for increasing gossypol content in leaves of a cotton plant by tissue-specific overexpression of CGF2, and in certain embodiments CGF1 and/or CGF3, in the plant.