Pest susceptibility, yield and fiber traits of transgenic cotton cultivars in Multan, Pakistan.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), being a cash and fiber crop is of high significance in Pakistan. Numerous insect pests and viral diseases in Pakistan and around the world attack cotton crop. Genetically modified cotton (transgenic, resistant to lepidopteran insects), hereafter written as 'Bt-cotton' has been introduced in many regions of the world to combat bollworms. However, cultivars differ in their pest susceptibility, yield response and fiber quality traits. Nonetheless, recent studies have indicated that lepidopteran pests are evolving resistance against 'Bt-cotton'. Several 'Bt-cotton' cultivars have been developed in Pakistan in the past decade; however, limited is known about their pest susceptibility, seed-cotton yield and fiber quality traits. This two-year field study evaluated pest susceptibility, yield and fiber quality traits of thirteen newly developed 'Bt-cotton' cultivars in Pakistan. The cultivars differed in their susceptibility to sucking insects during both years of study. The cultivars 'FH-647', 'SLH-8', 'FH-Lalazar' and 'IUB-013' were more susceptible to jassid, whereas 'BS-52' exhibited higher susceptibility to whitefly during both years of study. Similarly, cultivars 'AGC-999' and 'MNH-992' proved highly susceptible to thrips during each study year. Although 'Bt-cotton' is resistant to bollworms, cultivars 'SLAH-8', 'VH-305' and 'BH-184' were susceptible to spotted bollworm, while 'SLAH-8', 'RH-647' and 'VH-305' were infested by American bollworm. The most susceptible cultivars to cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) attack were 'RH-647', 'IR-NIBGE-7' and 'VH-305'. The highest seed-cotton yield was recorded for 'FH-Lalazar' during both years of study. Similarly, the highest ginning out turn was recorded for cultivars 'BS-52', 'VH-305', 'RH-647', 'IUB' and 'AA-919'. The cultivar 'FH-Lalazar' exhibited low pest susceptibility and CLCuV infestation compared to the rest of cultivars. The highest and the lowest gross and net incomes and benefit:cost ratio were noted for 'FH-Lalazar' and 'RH-647, respectively. Keeping in view the low pest susceptibility and high seed-cotton yield, 'FH-Lalazar' could be recommended for higher yield and economic returns in Multan, Pakistan. Nonetheless, regional trials should be conducted for site-specific or region-specific recommendations.

Early maturing Bt cotton requires more potassium fertilizer under water deficiency to augment seed-cotton yield but not lint quality.

Exhaustive crops such as cotton require potassium (K) in copious amounts as compared to other crops. High yielding cultivars in cotton-wheat cropping system, have further increased its demand in cotton growing areas of Pakistan. As cotton is grown in arid and semiarid areas, therefore often prone to water deficiency. The reproductive growth particularly flowering and boll setting are highly sensitive to low soil water potentials, where enough K supply can play a vital role. In this two-year field studies, three cultivars (early, mid and late maturing) were cultivated at two K fertilizer levels 100, 200 kg K ha-1 along with control with no K fertilizer application at two irrigation levels. In first irrigation level, water was applied as per full irrigation schedule, while in water deficit irrigation water was applied at deficit irrigation schedule started after flowering till harvesting. It has been revealed that K application has impact on boll setting as well as seed cotton yield, however early and mid-maturing cultivars are more responsive to K fertilization. Furthermore, irrigation level had significant impact against K fertilization and relatively better response was observed in deficit irrigation as compared to full irrigation. Nevertheless, fiber quality parameters were unaffected by K fertilization. Considering the best benefit cost ratio under water deficiency, it is concluded that 100 kg K2O ha-1 should be applied at the time of seed bed preparation for economical seed-cotton yield of early maturing Bt cotton.

Development of Sustainable and Cost-Competitive Injection-Molded Pieces of Partially Bio-Based Polyethylene Terephthalate through the Valorization of Cotton Textile Waste.

This study presents the valorization of cotton waste from the textile industry for the development of sustainable and cost-competitive biopolymer composites. The as-received linter of recycled cotton was first chopped to obtain short fibers, called recycled cotton fibers (RCFs), which were thereafter melt-compounded in a twin-screw extruder with partially bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (bio-PET) and shaped into pieces by injection molding. It was observed that the incorporation of RCF, in the 1⁻10 wt% range, successfully increased rigidity and hardness of bio-PET. However, particularly at the highest fiber contents, the ductility and toughness of the pieces were considerably impaired due to the poor interfacial adhesion of the fibers to the biopolyester matrix. Interestingly, RCF acted as an effective nucleating agent for the bio-PET crystallization and it also increased thermal resistance. In addition, the overall dimensional stability of the pieces was improved as a function of the fiber loading. Therefore, bio-PET pieces containing 3⁻5 wt% RCF presented very balanced properties in terms of mechanical strength, toughness, and thermal resistance. The resultant biopolymer composite pieces can be of interest in rigid food packaging and related applications, contributing positively to the optimization of the integrated biorefinery system design and also to the valorization of textile wastes.

[Direct Cost of Reprocessing Cotton-woven Surgical Drapes: a Case Study]. / Custo direto do reprocessamento de campos cirúrgicosde tecido de algodão: um estudo de caso.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the direct cost of reprocessing double and single cotton-woven drapes of the surgical LAP package. METHOD: A quantitative, exploratory and descriptive case study, performed at a teaching hospital. The direct cost of reprocessing cotton-woven surgical drapes was calculated by multiplying the time spent by professionals involved in reprocessing the unit with the direct cost of labor, adding to the cost of materials. The Brazilian currency (R$) originally used for the calculations was converted to US currency at the rate of US$0.42/R$. RESULTS: The average total cost for surgical LAP package was US$9.72, with the predominance being in the cost of materials (US$8.70 or 89.65%). It is noteworthy that the average total cost of materials was mostly impacted by the cost of the cotton-woven drapes (US$7.99 or 91.90%). CONCLUSION: The knowledge gained will subsidize discussions about replacing reusable cotton-woven surgical drapes for disposable ones, favoring arguments regarding the advantages and disadvantages of this possibility considering human resources, materials, as well as structural, environmental and financial resources.

Direct Cost of Reprocessing Cotton-woven Surgical Drapes: a Case Study / Costo Directo del Reprocesamiento de Campos Quirúrgicos de Tela de Algodón: un Estudio de Caso / Custo direto do reprocessamento de campos cirúrgicos de tecido de algodão: um estudo de caso

OBJECTIVE Identify the direct cost of reprocessing double and single cotton-woven drapes of the surgical LAP package. METHOD A quantitative, exploratory and descriptive case study, performed at a teaching hospital. The direct cost of reprocessing cotton-woven surgical drapes was calculated by multiplying the time spent by professionals involved in reprocessing the unit with the direct cost of labor, adding to the cost of materials. The Brazilian currency (R$) originally used for the calculations was converted to US currency at the rate of US$0.42/R$. RESULTS The average total cost for surgical LAP package was US$9.72, with the predominance being in the cost of materials (US$8.70 or 89.65%). It is noteworthy that the average total cost of materials was mostly impacted by the cost of the cotton-woven drapes (US$7.99 or 91.90%). CONCLUSION The knowledge gained will subsidize discussions about replacing reusable cotton-woven surgical drapes for disposable ones, favoring arguments regarding the advantages and disadvantages of this possibility considering human resources, materials, as well as structural, environmental and financial resources. .

OBJETIVO Identificar el costo directo del reprocesamiento de campos de tela de algodón, dobles y sencillos, integrantes del paquete de LAP quirúrgico. MÉTODO Estudio de caso cuantitativo, exploratorio-descriptivo, llevado a cabo en un hospital de enseñanza. Se calculó el costo directo multiplicándose el tiempo empleado por los profesionales involucrados en el reprocesamiento por el costo unitario de la mano de obra directa, sumándose al costo de los materiales. La moneda brasileña (R$) utilizada originalmente para los cálculos se convirtió en moneda estadounidense a la tasa de US$ 0.42/R$. RESULTADOS El costo total medio, por paquete de LAP quirúrgico, fue US$ 9.72, con predominancia del costo con materiales (US$ 8.70), el 89.65%. Se destaca que el costo total medio de los materiales recibió fuerte impacto de los costos de los campos de tela de algodón (US$ 7.99), el 91.90%. CONCLUSIÓN El conocimiento obtenido subsidiará discusiones acerca del reemplazo de campos de tela reutilizables por campos desechables, favoreciendo argumentaciones relativas a las ventajas y desventajas de dicha posibilidad al considerarse los recursos humanos, materiales, estructurales, ambientales y financieros. .

OBJETIVO Identificar o custo direto do reprocessamento de campos de tecido de algodão, duplos e simples, integrantes do pacote de LAP cirúrgico. MÉTODO Estudo de caso quantitativo, exploratório-descritivo, realizado em um hospital de ensino. Calculou-se o custo direto multiplicando-se o tempo despendido por profissionais envolvidos no reprocessamento pelo custo unitário da mão de obra direta, somando-se ao custo dos materiais. A moeda brasileira (R$) utilizada originalmente para os cálculos foi convertida para a moeda norte-americana pela taxa de US$ 0.42/R$. RESULTADOS O custo total médio, por pacote de LAP cirúrgico, foi de US$ 9.72, com predominância do custo com materiais (US$ 8.70) 89.65%. Destaca-se que o custo total médio dos materiais recebeu forte impacto dos custos dos campos de tecido de algodão (US$ 7.99) 91.90%. CONCLUSÃO O conhecimento obtido subsidiará discussões sobre a substituição de campos de tecido reutilizáveis por campos descartáveis, favorecendo argumentações relativas às vantagens e desvantagens dessa possibilidade considerando os recursos humanos, materiais, estruturais, ambientais e financeiros. .

Milk: the new white gold? Milk production options for smallholder farmers in Southern Mali.

Until the turn of the century, farmers in West Africa considered cotton to be the 'white gold' for their livelihoods. Large fluctuations in cotton prices have led farmers to innovate into other business including dairy. Yet the productivity of cows fed traditional diets is very poor, especially during the long dry season. This study combines earlier published results of farmer participatory experiments with simulation modelling to evaluate the lifetime productivity of cows under varying feeding strategies and the resulting economic performance at farm level. We compared the profitability of cotton production to the innovation of dairy. The results show that milk production of the West African Méré breed could be expanded if cows are supplemented and kept stall-fed during the dry season. This option seems to be profitable for better-off farmers, but whether dairy will replace (some of) the role of cotton as the white gold for these smallholder farmers will depend on the cross price elasticity of cotton and milk. Farmers may (partly) replace cotton production for fodder production to produce milk if the price of cotton remains poor (below US$0.35/kg) and the milk price relatively strong (higher than US$0.38/kg). Price ratios need to remain stable over several seasons given the investments required for a change in production strategy. Furthermore, farmers will only seize the opportunity to engage in dairy if marketing infrastructure and milk markets are further developed.

Yield and economic performance of organic and conventional cotton-based farming systems--results from a field trial in India.

The debate on the relative benefits of conventional and organic farming systems has in recent time gained significant interest. So far, global agricultural development has focused on increased productivity rather than on a holistic natural resource management for food security. Thus, developing more sustainable farming practices on a large scale is of utmost importance. However, information concerning the performance of farming systems under organic and conventional management in tropical and subtropical regions is scarce. This study presents agronomic and economic data from the conversion phase (2007-2010) of a farming systems comparison trial on a Vertisol soil in Madhya Pradesh, central India. A cotton-soybean-wheat crop rotation under biodynamic, organic and conventional (with and without Bt cotton) management was investigated. We observed a significant yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems in the 1(st) crop cycle (cycle 1: 2007-2008) for cotton (-29%) and wheat (-27%), whereas in the 2(nd) crop cycle (cycle 2: 2009-2010) cotton and wheat yields were similar in all farming systems due to lower yields in the conventional systems. In contrast, organic soybean (a nitrogen fixing leguminous plant) yields were marginally lower than conventional yields (-1% in cycle 1, -11% in cycle 2). Averaged across all crops, conventional farming systems achieved significantly higher gross margins in cycle 1 (+29%), whereas in cycle 2 gross margins in organic farming systems were significantly higher (+25%) due to lower variable production costs but similar yields. Soybean gross margin was significantly higher in the organic system (+11%) across the four harvest years compared to the conventional systems. Our results suggest that organic soybean production is a viable option for smallholder farmers under the prevailing semi-arid conditions in India. Future research needs to elucidate the long-term productivity and profitability, particularly of cotton and wheat, and the ecological impact of the different farming systems.

Thread based devices for low-cost diagnostics.

The need for low-cost diagnostic devices, both for developing and industrial countries, has led to the search for inexpensive matrixes that will allow the performance of analytical assays. One approach uses paper to create multiple microfluidic channels which allow analytes in urine or blood to flow to different detection zones the device. The choice of paper arises from its low-cost and its ability to wick biological fluids by capillary forces (i.e., an external power is not required to move fluid in a device). This chapter describes the use of a common material-cotton thread-as an alternative matrix for low-cost diagnostics. Thread-based devices can be fabricated using established techniques that rely on common house-hold tools for manipulating threads (e.g., sewing machines and looms). The fabrication schemes described here could potentially be adapted for large-scale manufacturing of diagnostic devices.

The economics of abundance: coal and cotton in Lancashire and the world.

As a subterranean, highly elastic energy source, coal played a vital role in the cotton industry revolution. Coal was also vital to Lancashire's primacy in this revolution, because it was necessary both to the original accumulation of agglomeration economies before the steam age and to their reinforcement during the steam age. In no other part of the world was the cotton industry situated on a coalfield, and the response of other parts of the world cotton industry to Lancashire's agglomeration advantages was dispersal in search of cheap water and/or labour power. Lancashire coal helped to shape the global pattern of cotton production.

The view from the cotton: reconsidering the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union.

Having been evicted from their homes because of incentives created by the New Deal's AGricultural ADjustment Act, sharecroppers in Arkansas formed the biracial Southern Tenant Farmers' Union (STFU) in 1934. Led by socialists and radicals, the organization ultimately claimed upward of thirty thousand members and constituted an assault on the social, economic, and racial status quo of the South. Historians have celebrated the STFU, especially its commitment to biracial cooperation and equality. This article digs beneath this carefully constructed image of the union to scrutinize the internal dynamics of the movement. It revises a number of interpretations surrounding the STFU. Although the greatest obstacles to the union's success were external, it also faced internal divisions that diminished its efficacy. The STFU's decentralized structure did not foster strong connections between leadership and membership, resulting in misunderstandings. But most importantly, the union struggled to live up to its creed of biracialism and equal treatment of African Americans. Ultimately, the STFU was less an aberration that tirelessly confronted the social and racial ills of the South and more an organization that reflected some of those ills even as it grappled with them.

Neoliberal policy, rural livelihoods, and urban food security in West Africa: a comparative study of The Gambia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Mali.

This study examines the impact of two decades of neoliberal policy reform on food production and household livelihood security in three West African countries. The rice sectors in The Gambia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mali are scrutinized as well as cotton and its relationship to sorghum production in Mali. Although market reforms were intended to improve food production, the net result was an increasing reliance on imported rice. The vulnerability of the urban populations in The Gambia and Côte d'Ivoire became especially clear during the 2007-2008 global food crisis when world prices for rice spiked. Urban Mali was spared the worst of this crisis because the country produces more of its own rice and the poorest consumers shifted from rice to sorghum, a grain whose production increased steeply as cotton production collapsed. The findings are based on household and market surveys as well as on an analysis of national level production data.

Tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) thresholds and sampling comparisons for flowering cotton in the midsouthern United States.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), has become the primary target of foliar insecticides in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., throughout the Midsouth over the past several years. This prompted a reevaluation of existing action thresholds for flowering cotton under current production practices and economics. A trial was conducted at 19 locations throughout the Midsouth during 2006 and 2007. Threshold treatments ranged from a weekly automatic insecticide application to a very high threshold of 10 tarnished plant bugs per 1.5 row-m on a black drop cloth. Individually, all locations reached the lowest threshold, and eight locations had a significant yield loss from tarnished plant bugs. Across all locations, lint yield decreased 0.85 to 1.72% for each threshold increase of one tarnished plant bug per 1.5 row-m. Yield loss was most closely correlated to pest density during the latter half of the flowering period. The relationship between plant bug density or damage and yield was similar for drop cloth, sweep net, and dirty square sampling methods, but the correlations among these sampling methods were not high. Incorporating actual insecticide application data from the trial and average production and economic factors for Midsouth cotton, the economic threshold, if monitoring once per week, should be between 1.6 and 2.6 tarnished plant bugs per 1.5 row-m during the flowering period. More frequent monitoring or situations where insecticide applications are more efficacious may alter this threshold.

[The inheritance of an ultra-dwarf plant mutant from upland cotton].

The inheritance of an ultra-dwarf plant mutant from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was studied, which showed that the mutant was controlled by single recessive quality gene. This gene was denominated as du tentatively. No similar mutant has been found in upland cotton. The mutation could not normally flower and produce bolls under natural conditions, and its mature height was only 10.5 cm. When treated with exogenous GA3, it could normally flower and boll, and plant height could reach 57.8 cm finally.

Molecular characterization of cotton 14-3-3L gene preferentially expressed during fiber elongation.

The 14-3-3 protein, highly conserved in all eukaryotic cells, is an important regulatory protein. It plays an important role in the growth, amplification, apoptosis, signal transduction, and other crucial life activities of cells. A cDNA encoding a putative 14-3-3 protein was isolated from cotton fiber cDNA library. The cDNA, designated as Gh14-3-3L (Gossypium hirsutum 14-3-3-like), is 1,029 bp in length (including a 762 bp long open reading frame and 5'-/3'-untranslated regions) and deduced a protein with 253 amino acids. The Gh14-3-3L shares higher homology with the known plant 14-3-3 proteins, and possesses the basic structure of 14-3-3 proteins: one dimeric domain, one phosphoralated-serine rich motif, four CC domains, and one EF Hand motif. Northern blotting analysis showed that Gh14-3-3L was predominantly expressed during early fiber development, and reached to the peak of expression in 10 days post anthers (DPA) fiber cells, suggesting that the gene may be involved in regulating fiber elongation. The gene is also expressed at higher level in both ovule and petal, but displays lower or undetectable level of activity in other tissues of cotton.

Transformations in the age and gender of unfree workers on hybrid cotton seed farms in Andhra Pradesh.

Unfreedom in Indian agriculture is ordinarily associated with adult male bonded labour, and it is generally argued that unfreedom is likely to disappear as capitalism spreads/advances. By contrast, we find that workers employed on advanced capitalist cotton seed farms in Andhra Pradesh - accumulation linked to national and multinational capital - involves the employment of labour-power which is mostly unfree, female and young (7-14 years). Addressed here are the reasons for the transformations in the age and gender of unfree workers on such farms since the early 1970s. We argue that, in the context of men's emancipation from bonded labour, employers actively sought out relatively cheaper, more easily disciplined, unfree female labour. Then, in order to secure even cheaper female child labour, employers segmented the female labour market via ideologies about the superiority of female children over adult females. Corresponding changes in labourers' gender relations, which put more of the onus of family maintenance on to women and daughters, were found to facilitate the unfreedom of females.