BIOREMEDIATION EFFORTS FOR STICKY COTTON

Vern J. Elliott USDA-ARS
Shafter Research and Extension Center
17053 N. Shafter Ave. Shafter, CA 93263
(661) 746-8003
Fax (661) 746-1619
vjelliott@ucdavis.edu

 

Sticky cotton, the contamination o f cotton lint by insect honeydew, is a serious problem that makes it difficult for the textile industry to process the cotton fiber. This stickiness reduces the price paid to the grower and damages the quality reputation of entire production areas. Although insect management is playing the major role in reducing or preventing sticky cotton, remedial measures to reduce the stickiness of contaminated lint are still needed. Bioremediation, the use of microorganisms to degrade the contaminating sugars, may offer an economical and effective way to reduce the stickiness of lint.

Objectives of the current USDA ARS project are to examine the ability o f different strains o f yeast to utilize the sugars in insect honeydew, to select strains…

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