The cotton industry is worth billions of dollars as cotton is the leading renewable fiber that is used in all of our clothes, bedsheets, and more. However as climate change continues to grow cotton farms become stressed from the intensity of the heat, and droughts. Scientists are aiming to develop more resilient cotton. In testing scientists found two key genes, GhHSFA6B-D and GhDREB2A-A. These two genes help the plant with water retention and usage during droughts. Another potentially useful gene is GhIPS1-A. This gene creates an enzyme that synthesizes compounds useful for drought resistance. These genes could help the cotton industry maintain its production in the changing climate.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240729173346.htm
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.14402
Cotton is crucial for everyday life since we wear it all the time. The article brings up good points about how climate change is detrimental to plants who need a lot of water and cotton seems to be one of the plants. If they can change the genetic makeup of cotton to thrive in environments that lack water, this would greatly help the cotton business from being put at risk!
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