hirsutum

Gossypium hirsutum, commonly called upland cotton, is a flowering plant in the mallow family and the most widely grown cotton species, accounting for about 90 percent of world production. It is an allotetraploid with an AD genome, derived from ancient hybridization between Gossypium arboreum (A genome) and Gossypium raimondii (D genome). Native to parts of Central America and Mexico, it is now cultivated in warm temperate and tropical regions worldwide.

The plant is typically grown as an annual or short-lived perennial shrub, reaching about 1 to 3 meters in height. It has palmately lobed leaves and cream-yellow flowers that open for a short period. The cotton fiber, or lint, is the natural fiber that develops inside the boll around the seeds. Fiber length and quality vary by cultivar, with modern upland cotton producing medium-length fibers used in most textiles. G. hirsutum requires a long frost-free growing season, warm temperatures, and well-drained soil; irrigation is common in arid regions.

Economically, G. hirsutum is the dominant cotton species in global fiber production. Breeding programs focus on increasing yield, fiber quality, disease resistance, and pest management. Transgenic Bt cotton varieties are widely used in several countries to reduce losses from lepidopteran pests, alongside non-Bt and stacked-trait cultivars. Integrated pest management, irrigation efficiency, and soil health are common components of production.

Environmental and agronomic considerations include water use, pesticide application, and the potential for pest resistance. Ongoing research seeks to improve drought and salt tolerance, climate resilience, and fiber quality while maintaining high yields and economic sustainability.