Cotton is the perennial shrub grown for the fluffy fiber which protects the seeds of the plant.

G. hirsutum accounts for approximately 90% of world wide cotton production today.

Cotton may also be referred to as tree cotton and has diversified from Mexico, North-East Africa and Arabia and Australia.

Major Cotton growing countries in the world are China, India, United States, Pakistan, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Australia and Turkey.

Major Cotton producing states of India are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. 

• Kingdom:  Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order:   Malvales
• Family: Malvaceae
• Genus: Gossypium 
• Species: hirsutum

Fiber is the most economically important part of Cotton cultivation

Cotton grows in tropical and subtropical locations.

It does not do well in regions that have prolonged dry or wet spells.

Constant temperatures between 18° and 30°C.

A minimum of 500 mm of water between germination and boll formation.

Deep, well-drained soils with a good nutrient content is required for Cotton cultivation 

Cotton grows best on sandy soils with a minimum 5.5 soil pH and on clay soils with a minimum 5.8 soil pH. 

Soils should be well drained.

• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Aphid, Bollworm, Cutworms, Beetle and Caterpillar. 
    
  • Major Diseases: Alternaria Leaf Spot, Ascochyta Blight, Cercospora Leaf Spot, Target Spot and Bacterial Blight.
• Abiotic Causes:
  • Leaf Reddening
  • Parawilt
  • Leaf Drying
  • Boll Drying
  • Crazy Top