Comprehensive insights on evolving ideal plant type for high density planting of cotton in India

Abstract Cotton is one of the most important sources of fiber and plays a significant role in the global edible oil industry. Over the years, strategies such as the adoption of hybrids and Bt cotton have significantly contributed to improving yield in India. However, challenges such as yield stagnation, persistent pest and disease pressures, and high cultivation costs hinder cotton cultivation in India. Additionally, most cotton cultivars are tall, long-duration, and have a longer sympodial plant type, which requires multiple hand pickings and is not well-suited for mechanized farming. In this context, a high-density planting system (HDPS) is a viable alternative planting method for cotton that is amenable to mechanical harvesting and boosts productivity. Nevertheless, its widespread adoption in India remains limited, largely due to the lack of compact, short-duration, and synchronized maturing cotton genotypes specifically suited for this system. Breeders have focused on developing plant types with compact architecture, shorter growth cycles, and improved boll retention to enhance the suitability of cotton for high-density planting. Conventional breeding plays a crucial role in developing such genotypes, though it is often constrained by the time required and the complexity of genetic improvement. Alongside breeding efforts, canopy management and plant growth regulation, achieved through precision planting techniques and the targeted use of plant growth regulators, are essential for optimizing plant performance under high-density planting. Recent advances in molecular breeding, including gene mapping, marker-assisted selection, genome editing, and functional genomics, offer additional tools to precisely modify cotton plant architecture. The integration of conventional breeding, biotechnological innovations, canopy management, and precision agronomy is increasingly being explored as a comprehensive strategy to advance high-density planting and promote sustainable cultivation in India.