**12.1 Breeding for stress resilient cotton in Pakistan**


multiple Bt cultivars were introduced, the resistant cultivars are still being evaluated and are in the development stage. The cotton plant sustained major damage as a result of the severe bollworm invasion throughout the growth season. The main cause of the rise in pink bollworm in recent years is higher temperatures throughout September and October. The army bollworm's extreme invasion has a significant impact on cotton output. However, army worms' efficient management methods are still inadequate to eradicate huge populations at once. Therefore, creating resistance cultivars is the only practical way to manage bollworms and create Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans. The cultivars CIM-499, CRIS-468, MNH-633, MNH-635, and MNH-886 have all been approved. Targeted genome editing may therefore be essential to creating cotton that is resistant to bollworms.

