Cotton Fiber: Physics, Chemistry and Biology

David Fang is a Supervisory Research Geneticist and Research Leader of the Cotton Fiber Bioscience Research Unit, USDA-ARS Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He leads a team to study cotton fiber development using biochemical, genetic, molecular and genomic methods and technologies. His research interests focus on two aspects: 1) identification of superior fiber alleles and quantitative trait loci based on the analysis of MAGIC populations, and use them in breeding with assistance of DNA markers; 2) elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of fiber development especially elongation and secondary cell wall thickening through comparative analyses of fiber mutants and their respective wild types. Prior to the current position, he was the Molecular Cotton Breeder, and Director of Molecular Cotton Breeding at Delta and Pine Land Company. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1990 from Huazhong Agricultural University, China.

• Preface.- General description of cotton.- Cotton fiber structure.- Physical properties of cotton fiber and their measurement.- Chemical composition and characterization of cotton fibers.- Chemical properties of cotton fiber and their modification.- Color cotton and its utilization in China.- Cotton fiber biosynthesis.-  Cotton fiber genes and stable quantitative trait loci.- Advances in understanding of cotton fiber cell differentiation and elongation.- Cotton fiber improvement through breeding and biotechnology.- Index.

“Written by leading experts in the field, makes the book a standard work for students entering this fascinating field of research, but also for chemists, biologists, engineers and investors, who are active in cotton industry and research. … good bibliography and offer new perspective and resources for better understanding the field.” (Bogdan Marian Tofanica, Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 53 (3 – 4), 2019)