Question

Gossypium hirsutum is

• A. New world tetraploid crop
• B. Old world tetraploid crop
• C. New world diploid crop
• D. Old world diploid

Answer 1

The correct option is A New world tetraploid crop

Gossypium hirsutum, also known as upland cotton or Mexican cotton, is the most widely planted species of cotton in the United States, constituting some 95% of all cotton production there. It is native to Mexico, the West Indies, northern South America, Central America and possibly tropical Florida. Worldwide, the figure is about 90% of all cotton production is of cultivars derived from this species. Most wild cottons are diploid, but a group of five species from America and Pacific islands are tetraploid, apparently due to a single hybridization event around 1.5 to 2 million years ago. The tetraploid species are Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium tomentosum, Gossypium mustelinum, Gossypium barbadense. Thus, option A is correct.