Limited genetic variation in cotton has presented a significant challenge for the isolation of DNA markers linked with valuable traits such as resistance to Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt.

Bacterial blight of cotton is caused by the bacterium Xanthamonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Xcm).

Micro-organisms can be identified by the size or sequence of a portion of their DNA, and this information can suggest if they are likely to cause disease.

Plants may look simple and defenceless, however on-going genetic research is revealing a complex system that detects harmful organisms and triggers a battery of plant defence responses.

Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt, vascular diseases caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogens Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporumf.sp vasinfectum, respectively, are among the most important diseases of cott