The venture, Cotton Breeding Australia, will employ biotechnology and conventional breeding to develop higher-yielding cotton Photo: Stephanie Berghaeuser

Australian cotton growers and researchers are to form a cotton breeding joint venture, Cotton Breeding Australia.  CSIRO Plant Industry and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) will fund breeding and research for an initial ten-year period. 

The venture will employ biotechnology and conventional breeding to develop higher-yielding cotton with premium fibre characteristics; climate adaption and drought tolerance; improved water use efficiency; and increased disease tolerance.  Around 90% of the Australian cotton crop is genetically modified.  Cotton varieties developed by the CSIRO account for about 93% of the crop, the organisation says.  Its research has increased cotton fibre strength by 20%, and cotton fibre length by about 5%.
 

> Not a subscriber? Subscribe

MORE NEWS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY

Cotton Breeding Australia joint venture - 05/10/07
High yielding and stress-tolerant rice developed - 05/10/07
Vitamin C necessary for plant growth - 05/10/07
D1 Oils/KeyGene in jatropha biofuel deal - 05/10/07
Monsanto research nitrogen use in crops - 28/09/07
DuPont launches high-yield soybean technology - 28/09/07