Bt Cotton Seeds Research Articles

An Analysis of Marketing Status of BT Cotton Seed in Devbhumi Dwarka District, Gujarat, India

The main objectives of the study were to assess the company’s distribution pattern of quality seed material their market share, marketing channels. Multistage sampling technique were adopted. The total 120 farmers and 20 dealers were selected from four taluka i.e., Bhanvad, Khambhalia, Kalyanpur, Okhamandal (Dwarka) of Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat state. The five wholesaler/distributors were selected from district headquarters. The primary data were collected through personal interview with farmers, dealers, wholesaler/distributors using well-structured questionnaires and interview scheduled. Results revealed that most of Bt cotton growers to be middle aged farmers. The pattern of land holding distribution shows that majority of the Bt cotton growers belonged to the small and marginal land holding category. Social participation of Bt cotton growers shows that they are not members of any organization. The well was found to be the main source of irrigation water and most of Bt cotton growers were reported to attained primary level of education From the study, it was found that Rasi seed (P) Ltd. Occupied major market share in Devbhumi Dwarka district. Among different marketing channels, it was observed that marketing channel-I (MC-I) (Company→ Wholesaler/Distributors→ Dealer→ Bt cotton grower) is the most prevalent channel in the sampling area.

Constraints Faced by Bt Cotton Seed Companies in Gujarat: A Comprehensive Analysis

India's cotton industry is crucial to the economy, providing raw material for 75% of the textile industry and employing millions. Despite having the largest area under cotton cultivation globally, India faces challenges such as low productivity due to rain-fed farming. To address these challenges by enhancing productivity and pest resistance the Bt cotton producer companies were facing different constraints. Data from various stakeholders in Gujarat's Bt cotton seed market was collected and analysed using the Garrett Ranking Method to identify key factors influencing sales. The findings highlight the major constraints faced by Bt cotton producer companies includes the fixed price policy, lack of skilled manpower and seed adulteration. By improving access to quality seeds, enhancing farmer awareness and reforming seed policies, which significantly helps market dynamics in shaping the cotton seed sector.

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT FOR CHARACTERIZATION AND QUALITY OF BT COTTON SEEDS

The study highlights diverse methodologies employed for seed quality assessment and characterization, including genetic, biochemical, and physiological analyses. In our present study, PCR and ELISA based techniques was adopted to identify the specific Cry1Ac gene and proteins in MECH 162 and RCH2 transgenic cotton plants. MECH 162 of 21.9ug/g and RCH2 of 17.37ug/g of seed protein was extracted. PCR analysis confirmed that gene specific CRY1Ac F/R primer as amplicon size of 550 bp for Bt gene, 600bp for NptII gene and 200bp for 35s promoter gene. The ELISA method was used for the validation of the developed assay, also ELISA needed simple equipment and took less time. Insights into the integration of these strategies into breeding programs are provided, emphasizing their crucial role in ensuring the production of high-quality Bt cotton seeds with improved agronomic performance and yield potential.

Health Implications of Bt Cotton Seeds in Animals and Man

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an arborous plant from the Malvaceae family. Cottonseed meal is a by-product of cotton that is used for animal feeding because it is rich in oil and proteins. However, gossypol toxicity limits cottonseed use in animal feed. Gossypol is a phenolic compound produced by pigment glands in cotton stems, leaves, seeds and flower buds. Cotton is a long duration crop and is attacked by a number of insect pests. Earlier, insecticide quantity applied on cotton was highest but with the advent of Bt cotton, there is a great reduction in insecticide and pesticide usage as majority of the bollworms are controlled by it. Bt cotton refers to transgenic cotton which contains endotoxin protein inducing gene from soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. It was discovered by a Japanese scientist Ishiwata in 1901. B.thuringiensis strains produces 3 types of insecticidal toxins that are Crystal toxins (Cry), Cytolytic toxins (Cyt) and vegetatively expressed insecticidal proteins (vip). Bt-delta-endotoxins which functions as oral toxins are ingested by insect and protoxins are proteolytically activated to trypsin-resistant active core δ- endotoxin in alkaline mid-gut. The active toxin binds to cadherin receptors present on the brush border membrane of the insect midgut. Cadherins process the toxins to form homo-oligomers, bind to specific receptors like alkaline phosphatases and aminopeptidases before causing pores in the epithelial membrane, resulting in osmotic lysis of the cells which results in cessation of feeding and finally mortality of the insect. Cry toxins have not been reported to be toxic to higher animals such as goats, sheep and cattle in any part of the world as scientific evidences indicate that the Cry toxins do not get activated under the acidic conditions of non-target animals such as goat, sheep and cattle. In one study of acute oral toxicity study in rats, Bt cotton seed material did not induce any treatment related observable toxic effects when compared with Non-Bt cottonseeds. Histological studies in another study revealed that there were no difference in cellular architecture in liver, heart, kidney and intestine of Bt and non-Bt diet fed rats. The Cry toxins Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, Cry1F and Cry1C are considered to be safe to human beings. The stomach of humans, being the first organ of digestion which the Bt protein encounters, is acidic and contains proteases like pepsin which degrade the Bt protein. Thus, the alkaline conditions needed for pro-toxin solubilization and protease action required for toxin activation are absent in the stomach. More importantly, the human intestine lacks the specific receptors to which the activated Bt protein binds and initiates the physiological effect. However, there are several reports that Bt genes cause some serious problems to human health. Cry1Ac toxin at higher concentration have lethal cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on the human lymphocytes. The present review is an attempt to provide details from the available literature regarding uses of Bt cotton and its implications on animal and human health.

SWOT Analysis of Refuge-in-Bag for Bt-cotton In India

Growing a refuge crop is an integral part of transgenic crops with gene(s) from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and a key requirement to delay evolution of Bt resistance in target pests. Poor refuge planting with Bt-cotton in India, for many years, is a major reason for the outbreak of Bt resistance in pink bollworm and consequent erosion in the efficacy of Bt-cotton technology. As a remedial measure, the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India has directed complete shift to the marketing of Bt-cotton seeds blended with non-Bt refuge cotton seeds (refuge-in-bag; RIB) from this (2020) season onwards. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of RIB Bt-cotton combination in the context of known behaviour of cotton lepidopteran pests and prior exposure to the same Bt toxins since 2002, is discussed. Bt-cotton with RIB, if implemented with strong stewardship, will have far-reaching benefits and is expected to delay Bt resistance development in target lepidopteran cotton pests. However, the relevance of RIB for Bt-resistant pink bollworm could be in question.

Intellectual Property, Competition, and Regulatory Policies: A Case of Bt Cotton Seed Industry in India

This paper explores the relationship between intellectual property rights, competition laws and regulatory policies in case of Bt cotton seed industry in India. Using timeline analysis, the paper tracks the events to understand the temporal scope and inter-temporal dependences of the events. This study illustrates that interaction of business model and regulatory policies resulted in anti-competitiveness in the industry. The study shows multiple regulatory enforcements due to the lack of clarity and foresight. Lack of clear legislative framework, specific criteria for assessment, transparency and public involvement in the regulatory decision-making process has led to these multiple enforcements.

Determination of Gossypol in Hamid and Bt (Seeni 1) Cottonseed Oil using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

This study was conducted to determine the gossypol content in Bt cottonseed (Seeni-1) oil by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) element. The wavelengths used were selected by spiking refined, bleached deodorized palm oil (RBDPO) to gossypol concentrations of 0-5% and noting the regions of maximal absorbance. Absorbance values of the wavelength regions 3700-2400 & 1900-750 cm-1 and a partial least squares (PLS) method were used to derive calibration models for Hamid cottonseed oil, Seeni-1 cottonseed oil, and gossypol-spiked RBDPO. The coefficients of determination (R2) for the calibration models were computed for the FTIR spectroscopy results against those found by using the wet chemical method AOCS method Ba 8�78. The R2 was 0.8916, 0.9581, and 0.9374 for Hamid cottonseed oil, Seeni-1 cottonseed oil, and gossypol-spiked RBDPO, respectively. The standard error (SE) of the calibration was 0.053, 0.078, and 0.062, respectively. The calibration models were validated using the cross-validation technique within the same set of oil samples. The results of FTIR spectroscopy as a useful technique determining gossypol content in crude cottonseed oil showed that there is a significant difference (p <0.05) in the amount of gossypol content in Hamid and Bt Seeni-1 cottonseed oils.

Bt cotton seed purity in Burkina Faso: status and lessons learnt

BackgroundSince the commercial release of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso in 2009, the issue of seed purity in producers’ fields has rarely been addressed in an unbiased and objective manner. The potential for contamination of conventional seed varieties with Bt traits and the consequent threat to the continuation of organic cotton production has been documented. However, studies are rare on the varietal purity of Bt cotton seeds, despite the implications for the effectiveness and sustainability of their use.This paper compensates for the lack of research on the varietal purity of cotton seeds in Burkina Faso by reporting the results of Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay tests collected in 2015 on samples of both conventional and Bt varieties from 646 fields.ResultsAccording to the conservative criteria used to declare the presence of a Bt gene in a given variety (more than 10% of seeds of conventional variety exhibit Bt traits, and at least 90% of seeds of Bt variety exhibit Bt traits), seed purity was very questionable for both types of variety. For the supposedly conventional variety, the Cry1Ac gene was observed in 63.6% of samples, the Cry2Ab gene was observed in 59.3% of samples, and both genes were detected in 52.2% of the seed samples. Only 29.3% of the seeds that were supposed to be of conventional type contained no Bt genes. Conversely, for the labeled Bt variety, the Cry1Ac gene was found in only 59.6% of samples, the Cry2Ab gene was found in 53.6% of the samples, and both genes were found in 40.4% of the samples. Finally, for the seeds that were supposed to contain both genes (Bollguard 2), both Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab genes were found in only 40.4% of the samples, only one of the genes was found in 32.4% of the samples, and 27.2% of the seeds in the samples contained neither.Two factors are responsible for the severe lack of seed purity. First, conventional varieties are being contaminated with Bt traits because of a failure to revise the seed production scheme in Burkina Faso to prevent cross-pollination. Second, the original Bt seeds provided to Burkina Faso lacked varietal purity.The organic sector plays a very minor role in the cotton sector of Burkina Faso (production of organic cotton totaled 453 t in 2018/2019, out of national cotton production of 183 000 t). Nevertheless, the lack of purity in conventional seed varieties is a threat to efforts to expand certified organic cotton production. The poor presence of Bt proteins in supposed Bt varieties undermines their effectiveness in controlling pests and increases the likelihood of the development of resistance among pest populations.ConclusionOur results show the extent of purity loss when inadequate attention is paid to the preservation of seed purity. Pure conventional seeds could vanish in Burkina Faso, while Bt seeds do not carry the combination of the expected Bt traits. Any country wishing to embark on the use of Bt cotton, or to resume its use, as in the case of Burkina Faso, must first adjust its national seed production scheme to ensure that procedures to preserve varietal purity are enforced. The preservation of varietal purity is necessary to enable the launch or the continuation of identity-cotton production. In addition, the preservation of varietal purity is necessary to ensure the sustainable effectiveness of Bt cotton. In order to ensure that procedures to preserve varietal purity are observed, seed purity must be tested regularly, and test results must be published.

Assessment of bollworm damage and yield loss in seed blends of Bollgard-II with corresponding Non-Bt hybrid as ‘built in refuge’ in cotton

Bt cotton plants, with bollworm resistant trait, have been widely adopted since introduced in India in 2002. As a proactive measure to prevent evolution of resistance to Bt protein(s), it was approved for commercial cultivation with a stipulation of structured refuge of minimum 20% of the Bt area, constituted by plants that do not produce Bt toxins and thus allow growth and development of population of Bt susceptible pests. Though the refuge cotton seeds are provided in a separate pouch within each Bt cotton seed packet, Indian farmers have been reluctant to sow refuge. To find out a method for ensured refuge planting, we experimented with ‘built-in-refuge’ (BIR) in which non-Bt cotton seeds were blended with Bt cotton seeds in various proportions ie 5,10, 50% along with 20% recommended structured refuge and each treatment was evaluated in terms of fruiting body damage by major cotton lepidopterans, relative to the regulator stipulated 20% non-Bt structured refuge at five locations during cotton growing season of 2012–13. A major outcome from this study was that treatments with 5 and 10% non-Bt blends with bollga0rd-II were as effective as the 20% structured refuge, based on fruiting body damage due to bollworms, a key factor in managing Bt resistance without any compromise to the seed cotton yield. It can be concluded that the seed blend technology is a good option to impose refugia compliance to delay resistance in Bt cotton to bollworms in a country having lesser alternate hosts available for the target bollworms during the season and voluntary compliance of refuge is absent.

Effect of Feeding Bt Cotton Seed Cake on the Cheese Chemical Composition and Sensory Characteristics

This experiment was conducted in EL Nesheeshiba, Goat Research Center, University of Gezira Wad Medani Sudan. The objective of the experiment was to investigate; the effect of feeding goats on Bt cotton seed cake on cheese chemical composition and sensory characteristics. The results revealed that, there was significant differences (P<0.01) between cheese produced from feeding on Bt and Non-Bt cotton seed cake. With exception of acidity protein and ash were significantly (P<0.01) higher in cheese produced from milk goats fed on Bt cotton seed cake. Fat and total solid were significantly higher Non- Bt cotton seed fed goats. While there was no significant difference in sensory characteristics (color, flavor, taste and texture) between the cheese produced from Bt and Non-Bt milk. It was concluded that, feeding on Bt cotton seed cake significantly affect cheese chemical composition but not the sensory characteristics.

Effect of Feeding Bt Cotton Seed Cake on Nubian Goats Milk Characteristic, Gezira State , Sudan

Cotton seed is a traditional protein and energy supplement in the ration of dairy goat .The objective of the experiment is to explore the effect of feeding Bt cotton seed cake on physico-chemical characteristic of goats milk and milk yield .The experiment was conducted in EL Nesheeshiba, Goat Research Center, University of Gezira. Wad Medani, Sudan . Six Nubian goats, were divided into two groups each of three on the basis of their date of kiding .Each goat was housed individually. Each group receive the same concentrate except for the source of cotton seed cake. Where one group received Bt-cotton seed cake and the other Non-Bt cotton seed cake a rate 34%. The result revealed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in overall mean between the two groups in physical and chemical composition. But within month were significant different (P≤0.05) in chemical and physical composition. The milk yield was significant higher (P≤0.05) in all months in the goats feed on Bt cotton seed cake. It is recommended that further studies are needed to investigate the causes of the effects of Bt-cotton seed cake on milk characteristics and any possible harmful effects on human.

Sociotechnical Myths in Development

Introduction In the past few years, independently of each other, we encountered ferocious promoters of ‘technologies for development’, such as drip irrigation, conservation agriculture, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), or the better known Jatropha or Bt Cotton seeds. The missionary zeal with which these were promoted and defended (and sometimes attacked) struck us. Upon closer scrutiny these were not only technologies for development but rather ‘packages of sociotechnical practices’ ...

Impacts of Bt cotton on profitability, productivity and farm inputs in Pakistan: use of panel models

AbstractThis study estimates the benefits from adopting Bt cotton seeds in Punjab, Pakistan over two cropping seasons - 2008 and 2009. The study uses the panel modeling approach to determine the average effects of Bt cotton technology on short-run profits, yields and farm inputs. This approach controls for biases resulting from self-selection and endogenous farm inputs. The study shows that, on average, Bt adopting farmers receive 9 per cent higher yields per hectare (ha), reduce per-ha pesticide use by 21.7 per cent, and increase per-ha use of irrigation water by 6 per cent. Our estimates of the increase in cotton yield are far below estimates from previous studies conducted in Pakistan and India, which do not use panel methods. Allowing more Bt cotton varieties and ensuring the availability of quality Bt cotton seeds in the market is likely to lead to further increase in the private benefits from Bt cotton.

Ambiguity Related to IPR and Access to Technology in Bt Cotton Seed and Trait Case

The fixation of country-wide uniform seed price of Bt cotton, including the determination of trait value royalty by the Central Government in May 2016, could not resolve the differences within Indian seed industry. The complexity of underlying issues and apprehensions was large and less understood. The issuing authority withheld the control order and invited stakeholders' and public opinion within a period of 90 days. This note analyses a unique difficulty emerging in the Indian seed and agri-biotech sectors.

A Study on Brand Preference and Brand Switching Behaviour of Bt Cotton Farmers in Andhra Pradesh

After the introduction of transgenic cotton, Bt cotton gained popularity amongst the farmers in Andhra Pradesh. It created interest among the seed companies to release more transgenic cotton varieties in the country. To reduce the difference between prices of Hybrid and Bt cotton varieties, the Government of Andhra Pradesh forced the seed companies to reduce the prices to curb monopolistic practices. Price reduction motivated the farmers to adopt Bt cotton, which led to the introduction of more varieties from the companies' side. This study was carried out in Tamsi and Jainath mandals of Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh. The results of the study indicated that dealers were the major source of information for farmers to purchase various Bt cotton seed brands. Brahmma and Mallika were the most popular brands among the farmers in the study area. Majority of the farmers purchased Bt cotton seeds from the district private dealers by paying in cash. The sample farmers ranked high-yielding character of brands as a major influencing factor for the purchase of Bt cotton seeds and majority of the sample farmers were highly satisfied with fiber quality and were highly dissatisfied with the germination of Bt cotton seeds. Majority of the farmers were not ready for brand switchover, and the irrigated farmers were more loyal to their brands than the rainfed farmers. Variables such as yield performance, resistance to pest and disease, seed germination, new varieties, and new technology were found to be an important reason for brand switching.

Visual and Real-Time Event-Specific Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Based Detection Assays for Bt Cotton Events MON531 and MON15985.

Bt cotton events MON531 and MON15985 are authorized for commercial cultivation in more than 18 countries. In India, four Bt cotton events have been commercialized; more than 95% of total area under genetically modified (GM) cotton cultivation comprises events MON531 and MON15985. The present study reports on the development of efficient event-specific visual and real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for detection and identification of cotton events MON531 and MON15985. Efficiency of LAMP assays was compared with conventional and real-time PCR assays. Real-time LAMP assay was found time-efficient and most sensitive, detecting up to two target copies within 35 min. The developed real-time LAMP assays, when combined with efficient DNA extraction kit/protocol, may facilitate onsite GM detection to check authenticity of Bt cotton seeds.

Persistent Agrobiodiversity on Genetically Modified Cotton Farms in Telangana, India

Genetically modified (GM) crops may threaten agrobiodiversity because: (1) genetic material could escape into and subsequently alter non-GM species; and (2) GM crops encourage farmers along an agronomic feedback loop encouraging input-intensive monocultures. However, in the Warangal district of Telangana, India, GM cotton farms also contain nearly 100 semi-managed vegetables, trees, and wild plants belonging to 39 botanical families. While farmers continue to plant poorly understood, deceptively labeled Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) cotton seeds in their fields, they also maintain an average of 17 other plants on the same farms for home economic needs. This paper draws on surveys, field interviews, and ethnography conducted among randomly sampled Bt cotton farmers to show the full range of economic plants cultivated on Warangal GM farms. In doing so, I argue that some farmers have been able to preserve agrobiodiversity despite the pressures of GM cotton cash cropping. That agrobiodiversity has potential benefits for Indigenous knowledge and drawbacks for environmental and health concerns.

Contesting Corporate Transgenic Crops in a Semi Peripheral Context: The Case of the Anti-GM movement in India

Market penetration by the hegemonic core state's agricultural biotechnology firms has been preceded and accompanied by a vigorous anti-genetically modified seeds (anti-GM) movement in semi-peripheral India. To understand the extent of anti-imperialism and anti-capitalism exhibited by the Indian state, it is useful to investigate the character of democratizing forces-such as the anti-GM movement-which interact with and shape the state. I use primary and secondary data sources to analyze the anti-GM movement in India and argue that the movement is anti-corporate without being anti-capitalist. Further, it is counter-hegemonic but not anti-systemic. These four traits reflect the strengths and weaknesses of exemplary coalition-building between right-wing nationalists, centrists, and left activists. The Indian anti-GM movement suffered an early failure when the Indian state commercialized Bt cotton seeds in 2002, following the entry of unauthorized Bt cotton seeds and lobbying by farmers' groups for legalization of Bt cotton seeds. However, an effective coalition between the right-wing, centrist, and left elements was built by about 2006. This was followed by a most significant victory for the anti-GM movement in February 2010, when the Indian state placed an indefinite moratorium on the commercialization of Bt brinjal seeds. A second, more qualified, victory was achieved by the anti-GM movement when the Indian state placed a hold on field trials of GM crops in July 2014. The anti-GM coalition has been successful in pressing ideologically different political parties to take steps against the multinational seed firms based in core states. Further, it has enabled the Indian state to move from a sub-imperialist to an anti-imperialist role regarding GM seeds. But until the anti-GM coalition in India resolves its inner contradictions and becomes resolutely anti-capitalist and anti-systemic, it will not be able to effectively challenge the anti-imperialist Indian state's pro-capitalist stance regarding GM seeds and industrial agriculture.

Performance of transgenic Bt cotton of different Bt events under IPM in rainfed situation

The field experiment was carried out at ARS, Dharwad farm, Karnataka, India during 2010-11 to study the performance of Bt cotton hybrids, viz. Bunny BG-I, Bunny BG-II, JK Durga and Nathbaba developed through different Bt events under IPM practices. The performance of the Bt hybrids with IPM practices (module) was compared with farmers practices. IPM module encompassed, Bt cotton seeds treated with imidacloprid 70WS, sowing of redgram as a refuge, detopping of shoot tip, installation of pheromone traps, and selective use of chemicals for sucking pests control, whereas farmers practice relied only on chemical interventions. The results revealed that among the Bt genotypes, Bunny BG-II under IPM, recorded lower population of aphids, thrips, leaf hopper and mirid bugs (3.94,9.09,2.07/3 leaves and 3.10/25 squares respectively) followed by Bunny BG-I(4.44, 9.74, 2.26/3 leaves and 3.12/25 squares respectively). However non-significant variation among the genotypes was observed under IPM. Further, irrespective of the modules, bollworm population was not observed in any of the Bt cotton genotypes. Although the larval population of Helicoverpa was recorded in Non Bt, the population was considerably low with IPM practice (0.98/plant) as compared to the farmers practice (1.96/plant) due to target specific interventions. The fruiting bodies damage was negligible in both the modules with hybrids containing two genes compared to hybrids with single Bt gene. On the contrary, modules with non Bt cotton registered significantly higher fruiting bodies damage. Among the genotypes, Bunny BG-II integrated in IPM registered higher seed cotton yield of 25.20 q/ha followed by 24.57 q/ha in Nathbaba with more profit. It is evident from the results that performance of Bunny BG-II was found to be better as indicated by lower infestation and higher seed cotton yield under IPM practice.

Comparison of chemical composition of different transgenic insect-resistant cotton seeds using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

The comparison of chemical composition of genetic modification (GM) crops to their conventional counterparts forms the basis of safety assessment process for GM crops. In this study, we used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect the chemical and conformational changes between transgenic cotton seeds and their non-transgenic counterparts. The assignment of absorption bands and comparison in band areas of four regions from original FTIR spectra indicated that the contents of the compounds did not differ significantly between transgenic cotton seeds and their non-transgenic counterparts (P > 0.05). The comparison of Fourier self-deconvolution (FSD) and after peak-smoothing spectra in the region between 2000 and 1000 cm-1showed that the differences in band pattern can be observed obviously between transgenic cotton seeds and its counterpart, depending on the varieties. The changes in the protein profile of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton seeds Z30 were significant, both in multi-peaks-fitted protein structures and its ratios, compared with non-transgenic cotton seeds Z16 (P < 0.05). However, transgenic Bt + cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) cotton seeds SGK321, did not show significant changes, in comparison with non-transgenic cotton seeds SY321. These results indicated that both the indigenous and exogenous proteins structural changes in genetically modified organism (GMO) are worth being detected in detail for research related to its’ safety assessment. Key words: Transgenic, cotton seeds, safety assessment, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).