An In-Depth Review of Flavonoid Profile in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Being economically important for natural fiber, seed cotton and protein, cotton demand is increasing rapidly. With the ever-growing population, there is an ultimate need to increase the cotton production to meet this demand of man and livestock. Different Flavonoids, which are compounds that have antioxidant properties, serve an essential role in sustaining plant function and health. Flavonoids operate largely as photo protectors and phytoalexins, influencing the phytohormone auxin transport that affects the plant structure. Cotton production is also linked to the flavonoids as they play a great role in plant protection and vigor. Flavonoids play a critical role in response to abiotic stress. Leaf reddening in cotton and fungal infection resistance is attributed the flavonoids. Flavonoids also take part in the development of fiber and its color, maintenance of plant health and it’s defensive mechanism. With an increasing interest in the biological functions of flavonoids as well as advancements in isolation and classification techniques over the last two decades, the numerous flavonoids known in the cotton plant have risen dramatically. The capacity to regulate flavonoid expression in plants offers a chance to change defense mechanisms and growth. Genetic engineering techniques offer different methods that improves certain characteristics of cotton to further boost its output. This study aims to summarize existing findings on the prevalence and dispersal of flavonoids in cotton as well as to examine the historical research on flavonoids in cotton as well as potential paths for future research on this plant species. This review enlists the flavonoid profile studied by many scientists in the past and their distribution in cotton plant which consist of 52 flavonoids divided into 7 groups.