Sivakumar Swaminathan

Abstract Among the two allopolyploid cultivated species of cotton, Gossypium barbadense is known for its superior quality fiber compared to G. hirsutum. Length and strength are key determinants of the fiber quality. Although the mature fibers are dried cell walls consisting mainly cellulose, the dynamic remodeling of pectin, xyloglucan, and xylan polysaccharides during fiber growth significantly impact the final fiber quality.

INTRODUCTION Cotton (Gossypium species) is the most widely used natural textile fiber globally, with an estimated value of US $64 billion annually (USDA, 2024). Four cotton species have been domesticated, and among them Gossypium hirsutum is most widely planted because of its high yield and environmental adaptability (Hu et al., 2021; Jareczek et al., 2023; Viot & Wendel, 2023). Cotton fiber trichomes reach about 2.5–4 cm in length during 45–50 days post-anthesis (DPA).

Abstract Cotton fiber development relies on complex and intricate biological processes to transform newly differentiated fiber initials into the mature, extravagantly elongated cellulosic cells that are the foundation of this economically important cash crop.