Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the unique, most important natural fiber crop in the world that brings significant economic income, with an annual average ranging from $27–29 billion worldwide from lint fiber production (Campbell et al., 2010). The worldwide economic impact of the cotton industry is estimated at~ $500 billion/yr with an annual utilization of~ 115-million bales or~ 27-million metric tons (MT) of cotton fiber (Chen et al., 2007). In 2011 and 2012, global cotton production is projected to increase 8%(to 26.9 million MT). This will be the largest crop since 2004 and 2005 (International Cotton Advisory Committee [ICAC], 2011).