Cottonorigin

Cottonorigin refers to the origin and domestication of cotton, the plant fiber used in textiles, and the historical development of the cotton industry. It encompasses the biology of cotton plants, the processes by which wild cotton was transformed into crop varieties, and the geographic spread of cotton cultivation.

Biologically, cotton belongs to the genus Gossypium in the family Malvaceae. The four main cultivated species are Gossypium hirsutum (upland cotton), Gossypium barbadense (Pima or Egyptian cotton), Gossypium arboreum (tree cotton), and Gossypium herbaceum (Levant cotton). G. hirsutum accounts for the majority of modern production, while G. barbadense is valued for fiber length and strength; G. arboreum and G. herbaceum are grown in parts of Asia and Africa.

Domestication occurred independently in multiple regions. In the Americas, G. hirsutum and G. barbadense arose from domestication events, while in the Old World, G. arboreum and G. herbaceum developed in the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions. These parallel domestications contributed to the genetic and fiber diversity seen in today’s cotton.

Historically, evidence of cotton cultivation dates to roughly 5,000 BCE in the Americas and about 3,000 BCE in the Indian subcontinent, with gradual spread via trade routes to Africa and the Mediterranean. European adoption increased with long-distance trade, and mechanization in the 18th and 19th centuries transformed cotton into a global industry.

Today, cotton production remains concentrated in warm climates, with major producers including India, China, the United States, Pakistan, and Brazil.