China makes major breakthrough for transgenic cotton

The Transgenic Tech System of Cotton Commercialization was declared a success. Based on this system, 8 new cotton varieties have been developed and more than 32 million mu land has grown insect-resistant transgenic cotton.

Transgenic crops have been spreading around the world faster than any other crops in recent years. From 1996 to 2003, its coverage increased by nearly 40 times globally.

In China, transgenic insect-resistant cotton is the major product of transgenic farm produces. In the face of the fierce international competition, the research and industrialization of transgenic cotton has made a series of significant breakthroughs thanks to the government¡¯s support. New varieties with intellectual property rights have been invented.

The technical system for efficient, commercialized transgenic cotton which makes a annual yields of more than 6000 plants possible is the result of efforts of Cotton Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science.

The system brings genes of insect-resistant, anti-sickness and fiber improvement to more than 20 main cotton varieties. In addition, engrafting technology is successfully applied. In this way, more than 90 percent of transplanted cotton plants can survive and grow.

Experts confirmed that the research is at the international top level. It has made the transgenic insect-resistant cotton cover more areas in China very fast. Dr. Yu Shuxun, Director of the institute said some 70 percent of more than 46 million mu land to grow transgenic insect-resistant cotton this year in China would use domestically developed varieties. But in 1998 only 3.8 million mu of land yielded transgenic insect-resistant cotton with 95 percent of which was imported from foreign countries.

At present, transgenic insect-resistant cotton is harvested from more than 70 million mu of land. An extra revenue of 140 to 160 yuan per mu is generated for farmers.

By People's Daily Online