- Cotton is a natural fibre produced by the cotton plant
- The cotton plant is a leafy, green shrub and a member of the Hibiscus family
- The cotton plant briefly has cream and pink flowers. Once pollinated, these flowers are replaced by fruit, better known as cotton bolls
- Cotton naturally grows up to 3.5 metres and is a perennial shrub
- Cotton is commercially grown as an annual shrub and reaches 1.2 metres in height
- The most commercially grown cotton variety is Gossypium hirsutum, first developed by the Mayan civilisation in Mexico
- Cotton plants prefer hot summers with low humidity and long hours of sunshine
- The cotton plant’s taproot reaches a depth of 1.5 metres
- Cotton fibre is made from cellulose and has a thin coating of wax
- Cotton fibre is a thin and hollow straw-like tube
- Australia’s cotton growing season lasts approximately six months, starting in September/October/November (planting) and ending in March/April/May (picking) – depending on the region
- Cotton fibre is processed into yarn and fabric, the seeds can be crushed for oil or animal feed and the leaves used as mulch
- Cottonseed oil is one of the world’s most popular vegetable oils
- More than 100 countries grow cotton (Source: ICAC, 2007)
- Cotton is grown between 45 degrees north and 35 degrees south of the equator (Source: ICAC, 2007)
- Cotton comprises 40 per cent of all fibre sold worldwide (Source: ICAC, 2007)
- About 30 species of insects attack cotton, causing serious damage to the crop
- Cotton’s main pests are the Heliothis caterpillar, aphids, thrips, mirids and white fly
- Cotton can be affected by a range of diseases including Black Root Rot and Fusarium Wilt
- A number of environmental factors can affect the growth of cotton, particularly in the early stages, including heat shock, cold shock, sand blasting, hail damage and waterlogging
