COTTON

Economic importance
Cotton (Gossypium spp L.) belongs to family Malvaceae, in Hindi also known as Kapas .
It is one of the most important commercial crop. It is grown for fiber world over. Fibre is used
for making cloth. Fibre is used for making thread, which is used for mixing with other synthetic
fibres. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. Cotton seed contains 15-25% oil which is used for
making vegetable ghee or oil. Cotton seed cake after extraction of oil is good organic manure
which contains about 6% N, 3% phosphorus and 2% potash. Cotton meals are good concentrated
feed for cattle. The chemical composition of cotton is cellulose 91.00%, water 7.85%,
protoplasm pectins 0.55%, waxes , fatty substances 0.40% and mineral salts 0.20%. Cotton has
gossypol, a toxin that makes it inedible. However, scientists have silenced the gene that produces
the toxin, making it a potential food crop.
Origin and history
Cotton has been used as a fabric in India from time immemorial. The excavations of Mohen-jo-
daro indicates a high degree of art in spinning and weaving with cotton at that time. It finds
mention in the Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the Hindus. The cultivation of cotton spread
from India to Egypt and then to Spain and Italy. Every evidence proves that India was the
original habitat of cotton. Gossypium hirsutum – upland cotton, native to Central America,
Mexico, the Caribbean and southern Florida, (90% of world production). Gossypium barbadense
– known as extra-long staple cotton, native to tropical South America (8% of world production).
Gossypium arboreum – tree cotton, native to India and Pakistan (less than 2%). Gossypium
herbaceum – Levant cotton, native to southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (less than 2%)
Area and distribution
The important cotton growing countries are India, USA, former USSR, China, Brazil, Egypt,
Pakistan, Turkey, Mexico and Sudan. Current estimates for world production are about 25
million tonnes annually, accounting for 2.5% of the world's arable land. China is the world's
largest producer of cotton, but most of this is used domestically. The United States has been the
largest exporter for many years. The five leading exporters of cotton in 2011 are the United
States, India, Brazil, Australia, and Uzbekistan. In India, the states of Maharashtra (26.63%),
Gujarat (17.96%) and Andhra Pradesh (13.75%) are the leading cotton producing states, these
states have a predominantly tropical wet and dry climate. In nearly 65% of the area, cotton crop
in entirely dependent on rainfall and supplementary irrigation facilities exist in 35% of the area.
Maximum Productivity (774kg/ha) is given by Gujrat state followed by Andhra Pradesh
(748kg/ha) against national average of 591 kg/ha. During 2009-10 the area, production and
productivity of Haryana state was 5.07 lakh ha, 19.3 lakh bales each of 170 kg and 650 kg/ha,
respectively.
Classification
Genus Gossypium includes 20 species of cotton including wild as well as cultivated species. The
cultivated species have spinable lint while wild species have only short seed fuzz or smooth
seeds. According to classification by Hutchison (1947) the following four cultivated species
contain almost all the varieties of cotton cultivated in India.
Desi cotton
Gossypium arboreum (29% ) (n= 13)
Gossypium herbaceum (21%) (n= 13)
American cotton
Gossypium hirsutum (50% ) (n= 26)
 Gossypium barbadense (2000 ha) (n= 26)
Classification according to staple length (Mean fibre length)
(i) Superior long staple >27 mm
(ii) Long staple 24.5-26.5 mm
(iii) Superior medium staple 22-24 mm
(iv) Medium staple 19.5-21.5 mm
(v) Short staple 19 mm or less
Climatic requirement
Cotton requires a mean annual temperature of over 16oC and an annual rainfall of at least 50 cm
distributed throughout the growing season. It is grown in tropical and subtropical conditions. For
the successful germination of its seeds, a minimum temperature of 16oC is required. The
optimum temperature for vegetative growth is 21-27 oC. It can tolerate temperature as high as 43
oC but does not do well, if it falls below 21 oC. During fruiting phase, the day temperature
ranging from 27 to 32 oC and cool nights are needed. If during fruiting period heavy showers of
rain occur or heavy irrigation is applied, shedding of flowers and young bolls may result.
Abundant sunshine during the period of boll maturation and harvesting is essential to obtain a
good quality produce. Cotton plant cannot stand frost and hence its cultivation is restricted to an
altitude of 1000 m only.
Soil requirement
Cotton is grown on variety of soils, ranking from well drained deep alluvial soils in the north to
black clayey soils of varying depth in Central zone and in the black and mixed black and red
soils in South zone. Cotton is moderately tolerant to salinity and is sensitive to water logging and
thus prefers well-drained soils.
Cropping system
In northern India many rotations of crops involving cotton are feasible. Crops like wheat,
chickpea, pea, linseed can be grown after harvest of cotton. Some of the important rotations are:
Cotton-wheat, Cotton-berseem, Cotton-chickpea, Cotton-field pea, Cottonlinseed, Cotton-
Sunflower etc. In southern India cotton-sorghum-ragi is an important crop rotation in irrigated
areas. Intercropping with ragi, other millets or groundnut is also quite common in parts of Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra pardesh. In northern India mixed cropping or intercropping with
sesamum, groundnut, castor, chilli, guar etc. is quite common.

Varieties

Field preparation
Pre-sowing irrigation is undertaken after harvest of wheat. The field is ploughed with tractor-
drawn implements and leveled and planked before sowing. In Central and South zones, where
cotton is a rainfed crop, deep ploughing is recommended to remove weeds. The field is prepared
by repeated ploughing and harvesting with the onset of pre-monsoon rains. Crop is
recommended to row ridges and furrows in dry lands for moisture conservation and weed
management. In the red soils of South Zone, having poor moisture retention, field is given 2-3
harrowings followed by shallow ploughing and sowing is done on ridges. The availability of
herbicides for weed control has opened up options for reduced tillage and residue management,
which are more energy efficient and have an ameliorative effect on soil quality.
Sowing method
Row sowing: Sowing is done in rows as per recommendation of different cotton growing zones
with the bullock drawn plough or seed drill in rows and the plant to plant spacing is maintained
by thinning.
Square planting: In this system, uniform spacing between and within the rows is maintained.
For planting in this system, two typed harrow is moved along and across the field and the seeds
are dibbled on cross points. In this system plants get equal space for growth and development.
Interculture is done along and across the rows.
Paired row planting: The plant population and the number of rows are equal in the normal and
paired row planting. In case of paired row, distance between every two rows is reduced and
thereby the space between the two pairs of rows becomes more than the normal spacing. This
wider spacing, between the two pairs, helps in better aeration and light resulting in better fruiting
also. It also helps in easy intercultural operation and other operations. In this planting
intercropping with the early maturing and short statured legume like green gram, black gram etc.
can be practiced.
Skip row planting: In this system after every two, three or four rows, one or two rows are not
planted but the plants of such rows are adjusted in the other planted rows, thus maintaining the
desired plant population. This planting is useful to have inter crops that help ease in operation
particularly in tall growing varieties.
Spacing
In Haryana for timely sown cotton spacing of 67.5 cm x 30 cm, 4-5 cm seeding depth and plant
population of 50,000 plants/ha is recommended but under late sown condition plant to plant
spacing should be reduced and a plant population of 67,000-70,000 plants/ha (25% more) is
required.
Sowing time
The sowing time for cotton varies considerably in different cotton growing zones.
Optimum Zone sowing time
Irrigated Rainfed
North Zone (Punjab Haryana, Rajasthan) 15th April – 30 June
Central Zone (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat) 15-25th May With the onset of
monsoon 1-15 June in South Gujarat and 15-30 June in Maharashstra
South Zone (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and T. Nadu) 15th April-15 May Jan.-Feb. in
rice fallows of A.P. and T. Nadu June in Karnataka
Seed treatment
Acid delinting: The process of removing the fuzz from the cotton seed by treating with conc.
H2SO4 is known as acid delinting.
Fuzziness
High Medium Low
For 1 Kg seed conc. H2SO4 100 80 70
Time for mixing (minutes) 12 8 6
Lime requirement (g) 20 20 20
Minimum time for drying (Hrs.) 4 4 4
Wash the seeds with water 3-4 times and then with lime water and fresh water and dry the seeds
under sun. Treat the seed with following chemicals from 2 hrs before sowing for early and good
germination along with healthy plants and better root proliferation. Treat the 6-8 kg acid delinted
cotton seed with emisan 5 g, streptocyclin 1 g, succinic acid 1 g dissolved in 10 litre of water.
For termite control 10 ml chloripyriphos + 10 ml water/kg seed be treated. For control of root rot
2 g Bavistin/kg seed be mixed.
Seed rate
Variety Acid delinted
seed (Kg/ha)
Non delinted
seed (Kg/ha)
American varieties 15-20 20-25
Bt Cotton hybrids 2.125 -
American hybrids 3-3.750 4.375
Desi varieties 12.5 Kg 15
97
Fertilizer requirement
Zone American Hybrid Desi
North 87.5 kgN+30 kg
P2O5+10 kg
ZnSO4/ha
175 kgN+60 kg
P2O5+60 kg K2O+10
kg ZnSO4/ha
50 kgN+10 kg
ZnSO4 /ha
Central & South NPK 40-20-20 180-60-60 kg/ha
Time of application: In varieties, add full amount of P2O5 and ZnSO4 at sowing. ½ N at square
formation (July end) + ½ N at flowering. In hybrids, add full amount of P2O5 and ZnSO4 at
sowing. 1/3 N at sowing + 1/3 N at square formation (July end) + 1/3 N at flowering. Seed and
soil treatment with Azosprillium.
Water management
Depending upon the location, soil type, climate and crop growth period, cotton needs 700-1200
mm of water to meet its water requirement. The requirement is low during first 60- 70 days after
sowing and highest during flowering and boll development. The first irrigation be delayed at
least 40-50 days for better root development and to avoid excess growth. In general 3-4
irrigations are needed. Cotton is commonly flood irrigated, although irrigation by furrow method
in more effective in water saving. Drip irrigation is becoming popular, particularly in hybrids in
Central and South zones. On sandy-loam soils of North Zone, 3-5 irrigations are sufficient. In red
sandy-loam soils of Tamil Nadu with low water holding capacity, 4-13 irrigations are necessary.
Moisture stress at flowering and fruiting results in shedding of flowers and bolls and thereby
reduce the yield. Last irrigation should be applied at 1/3 rd opening of bolls.
Use of hormones
(A) Nephthalin acetic acid (NAA): Two spray of NAA should be done. First spray should be
done @ 125 ml/ha at the time of flowering (2nd and 3rd week of August) and second spray
@175 ml/ha after 20 days of 1st spray. This will help in reducing flower rotting and boll drop.
(B) Cycocil: To avoid excessive growth of American cotton, apply 80 ml cycocil / ha in 800 lt of
water at square formation.
Picking
American cotton : In the month of October
Desi cotton : In the 3rd week of September
Picking should be done at 8-10 days interval.
Weed management
Cotton is susceptible to weed competition from sowing to complete canopy cover. Cotton yields
are reduced by 50-85% with unchecked weed growth or their ineffective control. Weeds must be
removed mechanically 2-3 times as per requirement. First weeding should be done before first
irrigation. For chemical control of weeds spray Stomp @ 5 lt/ha in 600 lt of water just after
sowing. This will control Trianthema (Santhi) and Echinochloa sp. or before germination carry
out dry hoeing followed by spray of Diuron @ 500 g/ha in 600 lt of water. Or 40-45 days after
sowing carry out dry hoeing followed by spray of Stomp @ 3 lt/ha in 600 lt of water and apply
irrigation. This will also take care of annual weeds.
Disease management
Angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas axanopodis pv. malvacearum): The bacterium attacks all the
above ground plant parts, causing various types of symptoms. The disease may appear from the
seedling rot to boll rot. On the leaves water-soaked lesions first appear that become angular,
bound by vein lets and turn dark brown to black. The spot size may vary from 1-5 mm in size
and often several spots may coalesce to form irregular black patches resulting in withering and
drying of leaves. The infection may spread along the bigger veins and veinlet of the leaves and
causes vein blight symptoms.
Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum): The disease affects the plant at all stages of
growth. There is drooping of leaves starting from the oldest leaves at the base and wilt
proceeding upward. Defoliation and discoloration of stem may also be seen.Vascular bundles are
filled with fungal hyphae.
Root Rot (Rhizoctonia bataticola): The disease spreads in the field in circles. If the affected
plants are pulled out and examined, the entire root system shows rotting and decaying. In severe
infection tap root remains attached to the plant and remaining root system (lateral and thinner
roots) decays completely. The woody portions may become black and brittle, Often fungal
sclerotia appear as minute black dots on the surface of the of the woody tissue and on the rotting
bark.
Leaf Curl (Cotton Leaf Curl Virus CLCV): The disease causes thickening of small veins,
accompanied by up word cupping and curling of the leaves and formation of enations on the
lower surface of the leaves. The internodal length is reduced and plants remains stunted. The
height of the plant is greatly reduced, there is smalling of leaves and fruiting bodies and plant
look bunchy.
Integrated disease management
1. Seed treatment with Emisan-6 (5 g) and Streptocycline (1g) in ten liters water. This solution is
sufficient for 5-8 kg seed and controls both internal and external seed borne infection.
2. In areas where root rot is problem, treat the seed with Bavistin @ 2.5 g/kg seed just before
sowing.
3. For angular leaf spot, spray the crop with Streptocycline (15-20 g/ha) alternating with copper
oxychloride i.e. Blitox (1.5-2.0 kg/ha) from last week of June or beginning of July at 15 days
interval. For better retention of fungicide on plant surface mix 10 g Selwett or Triton per 100
litres of fungicidal solution.
4. Follow crop rotation atleast for 3 years in areas where root rot is a problem.
5. Adjust sowing date so that the temp. of soil should not be high. Sowing of mung bean/ moth in
alternating rows of cotton is helpful in checking the root rot.
6. Destroy the plant disease debris after harvest of the crop and give one deep ploughing in the
month of June- July which will reduce the root rot inoculum.
7. Application of FYM increases the growth of antagonistic organism.
8. Desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum) have high degree of resistance to leaf curl.
9. Rouge out the leaf curl infected plants in the initial stage to prevent secondary spread of the
disease.
10. Timely spraying of Ethion 50 EC@ 1.2 litre/ha or other systemic insecticide to control the
white fly as vector to control the spread of leaf curl virus.
11. Spray the crop with Dithane M-45 @ 0.2% for the control of leaf spot diseases.
Insect management
Termites: At the seedling stage termites cut the plants from the ground level. The first sign of
attack in the young plants is wilting/drying followed by the death of the plant. The infested
plants can be easily pulled out and usually containing the termites on them. For control, don’t use
green manure or raw farm yard manure as these encourage the termite infestation. Remove the
stubbles of the previous crop from the field which attract the termites. Use chloripyriphos @ 5
liter per hactare in the standing crop along with irrigation. Seed treatment with chlorpyriphos
@10 ml chlorpyriphos+10 ml water per kg seed. After the seed treatment, dry it in shade for 30
minutes
Leaf Hopper (Amrasca biguttula): It remains active during July-August and increases with the
intermittent rainfall. Both nymphs and adults cause damage by sucking the cell sap. The attacked
leaves turn pale and then rusted red and leaves may turn to cup shape (down side) and dry up.
For control spray the crop with 750 ml dimethoate (Rogor) 30 EC or 900 ml oxydemeton-methyl
(Metasystox) 25 EC or formothion (Anthio) 25 EC or 100 ml imidacloprid (Confidor) 200 SL or
100 g thiomethoxm (Aktara) 25 WG in 300-350 liter of water per hactare
Cotton White Fly (Bemisia tabaci): The insect damage during August- September in cotton and
more population has been noticed in dry weather conditions. Damage is done by sucking the cell
sap from the leaves resulting the loss of vitality of the plant. Cotton white fly also transmit the
cotton leaf curl virus and the veins of diseased leaves got thickened and later on leaves becomes
cup shaped (upside) and another leaf is emerged from the leaf. Control same as lear hopper.
Spotted bollworm (Earias insulana): In the vegetative stage larval bore into the growing shoots
and the affected shoots droop down. Later on, during the reproductive stage, larvae borer in to
the flower buds, flowers and green bolls consequently shedding of the fruiting bodies takes
place. The attacked bolls are tunneled and blocked with excreta. The infested
bolls open prematurely and the lint is spoiled resulting in lower market value.
For control destroy the alternative host plants mentioned under host range as these serves food
source and also pests complete the life cycle in the absence of cotton crop and re infest the cotton
in the ensuing crop season. Avoid the intercropping of okra with cotton, as the insect pests of
cotton and okra are similar thus the okra crop serves the source of infestation.
Avoid taking the ratoon crop because the insect-pests build up on rattoon crop a bit early and
later on migrate to main crop (cotton). If there is infestation by spotted bollworm at vegetative
stage, go for de topping of the infested growing vegetative shoots to manage the buildup of the
pest population. For the control of spotted bollworm spray 2.5 litrer neem (Achook/Nimbecidin)
or 1.5 litre carbaryl (Sevin/Carbavin/Hexavin) 50WP or fenitrothion
(Folithion//Sumithion/Ekathion) 50EC or quinalphos (Ekalax) 25EC or lindane (Kanodane)
20EC or profenophos (Curacron) 50EC in 350-400 liter of water per hactare.
Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella): Larval stage damages the buds, flower and bolls.
Soon after emergence, the larvae enter the flower buds, flowers and the bolls. Entry hole is
closed down and larvae continue its feeding inside the bolls. The attacked bolls fall off
prematurely. For management, Remove previous year’s refuge of cotton crop. Destroy the off-
season cotton sprouts; alternative host plants and burn the plant debris from cotton fields to
minimize incidence of insect pest. Deep ploughing of the fields in the end of February is also
helpful in reducing the carryover of the pest. Spray the crop with insecticides suggested for the
control of spotted bollworms.
American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera): The newly hatched larva initiates feeding on the
buds, squares, flowers and bolls of the cotton crop. The larvae make a circular hole on the
fruiting bodies and as the larvae grow up half of the larval body remain outside and release the
fical material outside. Fully damaged fruiting body shed down. During early season the larvae
may also be noticed feeding on the succulent leaves. For management, destroy the weeds, which
serves as the alternative host for the cotton bollworm. Encourage intercropping of cotton with
bajra so that natural enemies of American bollworm may build up on intercrop which finally
may take care of the pest. Deep summer ploughing to expose pupae to sunlight so that these may
be killed due to desiccation as well as may be picked up the birds. Use recommended dose of
fertilizers as the excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizer encourages the pest infestation. Spray
2.5-3.0 litre chloripyriphos 20 EC or quinalphos25EC or carbaryl 50WP or 1.5-2.0 litre ml
triazophos in 500-600 liter of water per hactare.
Cotton semi-looper (Anomis flava): Young semi-looper feeds on leaves making small holes
while grown up larvae feed on leaf lamina. Spraying of insecticides for spotted bollworm will
also control the semi-looprers.
Aphid (Aphis gossypii): Adults are pale green while nymphs are of green color. Nymphs and
adults of aphid cause damage by sucking the cell sap from twigs and leaves. Aphids also secrete
the honeydew, which covers the dorsal surface of the leaves and on the leaves. Management
practices under taken for sap-sucking pests would also take care of this pest also.
Cotton Grey Weevil (Myllocerus undecimpustulatus): Weevils are of grey Colour while grubs
are white and legless. The pest remains active in cotton eco-system from April to October-
November. The grubs feed on the roots while the adults feed on leaves, buds and flowers.
Nibbling of the leaves, flowers and buds take place from the margins. Management practices
applied for other cotton pests will also take care of this pest.
Causes of low yield of lint in India
The national average productivity of cotton lint in India is about 123 kg/ha although, the highest
productivity of lint 230 kg/ha in the country has been obtained from NW PZ i.e., states of U.P.,
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The reason for such lower productivity is (i) Lack of ideotypes.
(ii) About 80% of the area under cotton is rainfed. (iii) The fertilizer consumption and fertilizer
use efficiency of cotton is very low due to lack of irrigation resources. (iv) G. arboreum and G.
herbaceum are known for their lower yields, longer duration and poor ginning qualities. (v) The
undesirable plant characters like bushy and spreading growth habits require wider spacing which
results into less plant population per hectare. (vi) Poor harvest index i.e. production of most of
monopodial (vegetative branches) and lesser of fruiting branches. (vii) Susceptibility of old plant
types to numerous insect/pest and diseases. (viii) Higher percentage of boll shedding due to
formation of more abscisic acid (ABA) during square and boll formation stage. (ix) Bad boll
opening due to improper nutrition i.e. insufficient nitrogen and Ca supply during early plant
growth period followed by deficient potash content during flowering stage. (x)Excessive
moisture or drought during square formation or during flowering results into higher boll
shedding and poor yields. (xi) Excessive nitrogen without an appropriate quantities of P and K
causes heavy boll formation and high boll shedding.
Factors affecting the quality of cotton
1. Genetic factors: It is very distinct that the staple length, ginning %, fibre fineness etc. vary
greatly with different cotton spp. It is further observed that most of the quality factors are
superior in the fibres received from the flanks or the basal region (Chalazal end) to those fibres
received from the apical region (micropylar end) of the same plant. It is also observed that a
higher number of fibres/seed, higher ginning % and higher weight of individual fibres are
obtained from lighter seeds of the cotton.
2. Locality and season: The quality of the same variety differs considerably when it is grown in
different cotton growing regions. The growing season also has its impact on the quality
characters of cotton viz. cotton grown during summer in South India gives longer, finer and more
mature fibres than those which are obtained from the winter crop of the same area. These
differences were probably due to higher atmospheric temperature and greater solar radiation in
the former than in the latter case.
3. Fertilizer: The opinions differ about the impact of the fertilizers on the quality of fibre.
According to some scientists there is no significant correlation between fibre quality and rate and
source of fertilizer nutrient supply. But according to another group it is observed that the soil rich
in organic matter content or when supplied with organic manures produces better quality cotton
fibres than the soil which is supplied with only inorganic fertilizers and organic matter is kept
lower.
4. Water management: From the experimental findings it has been concluded that high
humidity or water logging is always harmful to the cotton quality. But at the same time drought
is responsible for immaturity, decrease in staple length and increase in roughness of the fibre. It
is noticed that heavy rains before flowering result in shorter staples than rains after flowering
which result in shorter staples whereas rains during boll formation stage help in increasing the
fibre length.
5. Picking: The cotton picked earlier (in beginning) is of superior quality than the cotton picked
up at later stages which is accounted for the age of plants and attack of insect/pest in the cotton
crop. Apart from this presence of foreign materials such as leaves, stem, diseased or damaged
cotton in the lot reduces the quality.
6. Plant protection measures: Presence of weeds, insect/pests and attack of diseases naturally
lower down the quality. Hence the crop given a proper care and protection will always produce
better quality cotton than those which are grown in neglected conditions.
7. Type of seed used: A seed keeps its genetic purity upto 3 years and from 4th year of its
multiplication the degeneration rate becomes faster. Therefore, the type of seed, whether
foundation seed (which is supposed to be the best) or certified seed or what type of seed is used
for raising the crop is of greater importance for studying the cotton quality.
8. Storage factors: The cotton stored in open or under uncontrolled climatic conditions will
degenerate very quickly and the quality would be exceptionally poorer than that stored under
better conditions.
9. The moisture regulations and cotton quality: The fibres swell up by absorbing moisture
when it passes through dry to wet state and they get elongated by 1.2 % longitudinally and by
about 14% laterally. The extent of swelling increases with increase in temperature and relative
humidity. These fibres shrink when they get dried, thus the moisture content in the atmosphere
and store weakens the fibres and the colour, lusture etc. are also impaired. Therefore, a poor
moisture regulation in the store is harmful to the quality of cotton.
10. Other factors: Such as sowing time, spacing, type of soil, hormonal treatment etc. have also
their due share in the effect on the quality but are not of significant importance.
103
Bt Cotton
Genetically modified (GM) cotton was developed to reduce the heavy reliance on pesticides. The
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) naturally produces a chemical harmful only to a small
fraction of insects, most notably the larvae of moths and butterflies, beetles, and flies, and
harmless to other forms of life. The gene coding for Bt toxin has been inserted into cotton,
causing cotton to produce this natural insecticide in its tissues. In many regions, the main pests in
commercial cotton are lepidopteran larvae, which are killed by the Bt protein in the transgenic
cotton they eat. This eliminates the need to use large amounts of broad-spectrum insecticides. Bt
cotton is ineffective against many cotton pests, however, such as plant bugs, stink bugs, and
aphids; depending on circumstances it may still be desirable to use insecticides against these.
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) said that,
worldwide, GM cotton was planted on an area of 16 million hectares in 2009. This was 49% of
the worldwide total area planted in cotton. The U.S. cotton crop was 93% GM in 2010 and the
Chinese's a cotton crop was 68% GM in 2009. Cotton has mainly been genetically modified for
resistance to glyphosate (marketed as Roundup in North America) a broad-spectrum herbicide
sold by Monsanto, the same company that sells some of the Bt cotton seeds to farmers. There are
now a number of different cotton seed companies selling GE cotton around the world. GM cotton
acreage in India continues to grow at a r5apid rate, increasing from 50,000 hectares in 2002 to
8.4 million hectares in 2009. The total cotton area in India was 9.6 million hectares (the largest in
the world or, about 35% of world cotton area), so GM cotton was grown on 87% of the cotton
area in 2009. This makes India the country with the largest area of GM cotton in the world,
surpassing China (3.7 million hectares in 2009).