Fibre plant – Cotton
Many members of Malvaceae yield fibres. Gossypium barbadense
(Egyptian cotton) and G. hirsutum are some examples for fibre plants.
The seed coat of cotton seeds produce fibres on their external surface. So, it is called as surface fibre.
Almost the entire textile industry depends on this fibre. Cotton is
used in stuffing the pillows and cushions.
It is also used in making rubber tyres, carpets, blankets and cordages are made from cotton.
Economic importance
- It is a cash crop.
- It gives three important products: fibre, food and cattle feed.
- Lint fibre is for clothing which is very much useful in the textile
industries. - Seed is used for extracting oil. This is also used as vanaspathi.
- Cotton flour prepared from the seed is used for bread and biscuit
making. - Cotton seed cake is used as a good organic manure.
- Fatty acids obtained from oil is used in the preparation of insecticide,
fungicidies and plastics, etc.
Other links
Plant physiology – photosynthesis and its significance
BIOLOGY IN HUMAN WELFARE Introduction & Food production
Aspects of plant breeding and Types
Hybridization in plant breeding
Polyploid breeding, Mutation breeding, Breeding for disease resistance
Genetic engineering, Improved varieties, Role of biofertilizers
Green manuring, Mycorrhiza as biofertilizer
Crop diseases and their control, Rice – Oryza sativa
Groundnut or peanut – Arachis hypogea
Citrus canker, Tungro disease of rice
Biocontrol of insect pests Bacterial pesticides
Bio war, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in biological warfare
Biopiracy, Bioresources, Biomolecules, Biopatent, Biotechnology
Medicinal plants including microbes
Commonly Available Medicinal Plants
Economic importance of Food plant Rice
Oil plant Groundnut Economic importance
Timber yielding plant Teak Economic importance