Early 20 Century interdisciplinary-integrated cotton research in Egypt and USA : In This regard, it is noteworthy that about a century ago a major research program on improvement of the Egyptian long-staple cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) was already established on the basis of a multidisciplinary approach (Balls, 1907, 1915). Balls (1907) pioneered the application of the then rediscovered Mendelian genetics as well as in integrating crop physiological/agronomical research within the cotton breeding program at Giza Station, with several substations across the country to test cultivar adaptability to variations in atmostpheric and edaphic factors (i.e., genotypic x environment interaction). Balls (1915) discussed in great detail the growth of cotton (including studies on stomatal behavior in reaction to cultural practices and climate) as affected by the heavy clay soils, with moderate levels of salinity, in the Nile river delta. He stated that, “Bolls opening ten days later will have weak but long lint, those opening five weeks later will have lint both weak and short, with a high ginning out-turn (i.e., lint percentage in seed-cotton), and those opening seven weeks later will be worthless in all respect”. Thus, fiber quality was strongly affected, in different degrees, by soil and plant water content at different stages of growth, a topic still researched by modern-day better-equipped plant breeders, physiologists and soil scientists.