Source: research - The Bayer Scientific Magazine

Precious fibers made of 'white gold"

Cotton has been grown and processed for over 7,000 years. It is extremely versatile, its uses ranging from sterile gauze and ultra-thin handmade paper to designer shirts. But competition from synthetic fibers that are cheaper to produce is intensifying all the time. Researchers at Bayer CropScience in Ghent, Belgium have managed to safeguard the future of cotton as a raw material by increasing the productivity of cotton plants. They have also developed ways of enhancing the quality of the cotton fibers.
 
Global research network for high quality

A critical factor in determining the quality of cotton is the length of the fibers. The longer, finer and more tear-resistant the fibers in a cotton shrub are, the better they can be processed. The following article tells you how the scientists discovered the secret of high-quality cotton and what role the enzyme saccharose synthase plays.

Complete article in PDF format: http://www.research.bayer.com/medien/pages/3987/cotton.pdf