Transcription factor GhWRKY41 enhances cotton resistance to Verticillium dahliae by promoting SA synthesis

Cotton is an important commercial crop, and its yield and quality are severely affected by Verticillium dahliae. Identifying cotton resistance genes to Verticillium dahliae and exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms is of great significance for accelerating the breeding process of cotton resistant to Verticillium wilt. In a previous study, the WRKY gene Gh WRKY41 was identified as being induced by Verticillium dahliae in multiple resistant cotton varieties, enhancing cotton resistance through the activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism. This study further analyzed the expression patterns of Gh WRKY41 under different hormone treatments, validated its disease resistance function in the upland cotton variety 'Jin668' using a virus-induced gene silencing（VIGS） assay, and measured endogenous hormone content. The results demonstrated that Gh WRKY41 was significantly up-regulated by SA, Me-JA, and H2O2. Silencing Gh WRKY41 weakened cotton resistance to Verticillium dahliae, while overexpression of Gh WRKY41