Fiber from three separate field tests was used to assess the effect of the frego bract, okra leaf, and nectariless characteristics on the amounts of gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin present in extracts of the fiber. Isolines with either okra leaf or frego bract traits grown at Baton Rouge, La. In 1984 were found to have comparable numbers of gram-negative bacteria, but significantly less endotoxin than normal leaf-normal bract cotton. In the 1985 tests at three locations in Louisiana, the numbers of gram-negative bacteria were comparable for four leaf shape isolines on Stoneville 213 and Deltapine-16 nectariless backgrounds, and for seven different pest resistance strains. The bacterial or endotoxin status of the fibers may not be reflected in the status of dust generated by carding the respective fibers.