#cotton

four women facing the camera standing in a cotton crop with sunflowers

Sunflowers help researchers advise on managing cotton pests

We’ve planted sunflowers between rows of cotton to act as windbreaks and so that helpful insects to thrive and help deal with insect pests. In turn, this helps cotton farmers limit their use of harsh insecticides. It’s part of what’s called integrated pest management.

Itchy, scratchy and unironed: Life before our quirkiest inventions

Humblebrag warning! We're the reason you're not mauled by mozzies. And that you can put your money through the wash (not in the money-laundering sense). So how much do you know about our quirkiest inventions?

Researchers inspect cotton plants in the glasshouse.

Best of both whorls: cotton with the benefits of synthetics

We’re working on new types of cotton that are still biodegradable and renewable, but with the added benefit of properties that make synthetic fibres popular.

Devourer of worlds: two of the worst pests have hybridised into a global ‘mega-pest’

The remarkably flexible cotton bollworm has overcome most insecticides and devoured global crop staples, and has now landed on the previously untarnished New World, there, with hybridisation now possible—it's a race against time for researchers to map its genome and find the genetic flaws to put a halt on its calamitous appetite.

From plants to pants: developing the next generation of cotton

Our researchers are working on the next generation of cotton that has all the benefits of synthetics, without producing plastic microfibres.

Worm turns for cotton pest as Australia breeds in resistance

By Sharon Downes, Team Leader, Resistance Evolution. Among Australia’s key cotton pests is the global insect nemesis of agriculture, Helicoverpa armigera. […]

Cotton on to the awesomeness of plants

Happy Fascination of Plants Day! That is, if you're not too busy celebrating Sea Monkey Day, Museum Day, or preparing […]