COTTON

 COTTON

Association between cotton and humans is almost of the same length as that of human history. Thus, the most sought after fabric for humans has been ‘cotton’, though several other synthetic materials are found in use. Yet, cotton fibre and its derivatives are readily accepted, as they are climate- friendly. Even in hot and humid weather, cotton is a comfortable wear; likewise in winter too, it gives ideal warmth to the wearer.

Cotton fibres are surface growth on seeds. A variety of cotton is cultivated in different parts of the world. These are 1 Upland cotton, 2 Extra long staple cotton, 3 Tree cotton and 4 Levant cotton. As the name goes, item 2 gives long fibres and is useful for fabric making. 5 Several hybrid varieties have been evolved too for varied purposes. Though cotton is popular by its bright white colour, other natural shades like Pink, Yellow,  Brown and Green are known in cotton fibres . But, fearing that by natural hybridization, these may get ‘inter-mixed’ and finally genetically ruin the pure white, all non-white shades are not cultivated.

Cotton yield suffered due to insect attack, especially the ‘Boll’ [Fruit of cotton] and fibres were devoured and rendered unfit for use. To get over the insect menace, Biotechnology was used. It was’ implanting bacterial genes’ to cotton cells. These genes would get automatically integrated to all cotton cells, including those of fruits. When insect lays eggs in cotton cells, their larvae feeding on cotton cells would be destroyed by ICP [ Insect crystalline protein] generated by bacterial genes of Bacillus thuringiensis [BT for short] BT genes are known to make more than 200 toxins which can destroy several different insects. Such gene-modified plant seeds were named GM seeds and GM plants can destroy the infecting population of insects and ‘protect themselves’. The same technology was used on Brinjal plants [ BT plants or GM crops]. Fearing that such ‘GM’ varieties may be bad for humans, farmers and activists voiced against marketing those GM varieties. One major constraint with GM crops is that the inserted genes may be lost after 1 or 2 crops. Every time new GM seeds should be procured for use and it was unattractive to farming practices. So, now in India we don’t hear much about GM seeds.

NON COTTON FIBRES

Other fibres used for fabric making are

LINEN  [ Linum usitatissimum] ,

JUTE [ Corchorus capsularis, Corchorus olitorius ]

BANANA [ Musa textilis]

AGAVE [ Agave sisalana]

All of them have several industrial uses.

Prof. K. Raman