Impacts of Climate Change on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.): Growth, Yield and Resilience Strategies- A Global and Pakistan Perspective

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important fiber crop which plays a vital role in industries, economics and rural livelihoods, globally and especially in Pakistan. But current climate change is increasingly becoming a threat to cotton productivity due to increased temperatures, variability in rainfall, droughts, flooding, salinity and increased infestation of pest and diseases. Heat and drought stress affects the rate of photosynthesis, maturation of the plant, boll retention and fiber development with significant yield and quality losses. Physiological instability and oxidative damage are exacerbated by combined stresses. Climate variability also increases the occurrence of key pests and diseases such as pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) and Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV) with devastating consequences to crop yields, particularly in South Asia. New opportunities are provided by recent progress in biotechnology such as CRISPR-Cas genome editing, genomic selection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and multi-omics approaches to develop cotton cultivars that are more climate-resilient, have enhanced stress resistance and have more stable fiber properties. Besides that, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) techniques like deficit irrigation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, agroforestry and digital agriculture are gaining increasing significance as adaptation strategies. This review provides a summary of the physiological, agronomic, molecular, ecological and socio-economic climate change effects on cotton at the global and Pakistan perspectives and integrated approaches for sustainable and climate resilient cotton production. This work was supported by the Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Science and Technology, under the program Climate Resilient Agriculture with a seed grant from the ASL. This work was funded by Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Science and Technology under the program Climate Resilient Agriculture, with a seed grant from the ASL.