The Institute of Cotton Research (ICR) – 棉花研究所 is the only state-level organization specializing in cotton research. It has 430 employees, including 27 professors and 60 associate professors.
The institute oversees 319 hectares of research fields and has established a national wild cotton nursery and ecological experimental stations for cotton breeding in Sanya (Hainan), Aksu (Xinjiang), Shihezi (Xinjiang), and Wangjiang.
ICR’s research focuses on:
- Genetic breeding
- Germplasm resources
- Cotton farming and cultivation
- Plant protection
- Molecular biology
- Agricultural product quality and safety
- Plant pathology
- Plant nutrition
- Pesticide science
- Biosafety
The institute is home to several key laboratories and centers, including:
- The State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology
- The National Engineering Laboratory
- The Cotton Seed and Fiber Quality Inspection and Testing Center of MARA
- The Transgenic Plant Environment Safety Inspection and Testing Center of MARA
- The National Cotton Improvement Center
The institute also publishes several academic journals, including the Journal of Cotton Research in English.
More information: https://cri.caas.cn/en/index.htm.
