Gene manipulation is often used to alter plant structure or performance. Gene manipulation can also be beneficial in the study of fiber physical properties which involves a basic problem: Variability by keeping the variety constant and altering its characteristics within that variety. In this way, modification of fiber and/or accompanying yarn physical properties can be more closely assigned to fiber structural or morphological characteristics which have been altered along with plant traits.

Texas Marker-1 and its isolines of smooth leaf, hairy leaf, okra leaf and small bract cottons were used to evaluated the changes in fiber properties induced by such modifications.

Physical properties studied included: Tensile properties of fiber bundles, fiber length, and fiber morphology, e.g., cross-sectional area and perimeter. Nep counts (biological as well as mechanical) were performed on fiber card webs.