NAC proteins that compose of one large family of plant specific transcription factors (TF) play the important roles in many biological processes (such as morphogenesis, development, senescence and stress signal transduction). In this study, a gene (designated as GhXND1) encoding a NAC transcription factor was identified in cotton. Sequence analysis indicated that GhXND1 gene contains two introns inserted in its open reading frame (ORF). GhXND1 protein is localized in the cell nucleus, and displays the transactivation activity. GhXND1 transcripts were mainly detected in cotyledons, petals, root...