Abstract: This chapter deals with the biological diversity that exists in the genus Gossypium, the genus that includes the cultivated cottons and numerous wild relatives. The diversity is considered from the viewpoint of germplasm resources, their accumulation, management, and utilization. Serious taxonomic study of Gossypium began with the work of two 19th century Italian botanists, F. Parlatore and A. Todaro. Growth habits in Gossypium are highly variable and include weak sub-shrubs, procumbent perennials, erect robust shrubs, scandent shrubs, fully arborescent species, and a variety of intermediate types. The form of the involucel is highly variable in Gossypium. Plant improvement, as a human activity, is as old as agriculture. The nonfiber-producing cottons include all of the wild diploid species of Gossypium. Gossypium darwinii shows a large amount of variability that is related to its subdivided distribution among the several islands of the Galapagos Archipelago.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-12-12
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 159
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot