Transgenic cotton has proved to be valued by Australian cotton growers and over 80% of all cotton grown is Bollgard II.

Despite its widespread occurrence, the genetics of fusarium wilt resistance in cotton has still not been clearly elucidated.

To achieve a greater understanding of the regulation of cotton fibre differentiation, more fundamental information is needed on the signals and mechanisms associated with fibre initiation.

Despite the long history of cotton production and research, little is known about the genes that control the initiation and growth of the cells on the outer surface of the seed that become fibres.