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to contribute to poverty alleviation, by increasing crop productivity and income generation, particularly for resource-poor farmers, and to bring about a safer environment and more sustainable agricultural development”. Keista, prieš maždaug metus kai žiūrėjau, man labiausiai įstrigo idėja, kad jie siekia nepriklausomai informuoti ir pan. Todėl kiekvieną kartą kai skaitydavau naujienas, vis paburbėdavau mintyse
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http://isaaa.org/inbrief/donors/default.aspTaigi prisiruošiau apžvelgti tai, apie kokius augalus pasirodė pranešimų, kad jie modifikuoti arba norima modifikuoti (ar tiriamos galimybės).
Apžvelgiamas laikotarpis nuo 2007 spalio 26 iki 2008 lapkričio 7.
Pekanas (pekano riešutas)USDA Releases New Pecan VarietyThe US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), in collaboration with the Kansas State University, released a new pecan variety called "Lakota".
PapajaMonsanto and India's TNAU (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University) to Develop PRSV-resistant PapayaIn response to a request from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in India, Monsanto Company, USA, announced a royalty-free transfer of its Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) resistance technology to TNAU.
The technology has already been commercialized in the US and China, and is being used to develop biotech crops by several other nations around the world.
Biotech Papaya Safe for Soil MicrobesBiotech papaya with resistance to papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was developed in Thailand years ago but commercial cultivation is not yet possible because of environmental and food safety concerns, in addition to the prevailing parliamentary discussion on biotech crop approval. To clarify the issue on environmental safety of PRSV-resistant papaya, especially on its effect in soil microbes, The Plant Genetic Engineering Unit (PGEU) of the Kasetsart University which developed transgenic PRSV-resistant papaya in Thailand, has conducted an environmental risk assessment of transgenic papayas on the total population and the possible horizontal transgene transfer in soil microbes in the area planted to transgenic papaya. Studies showed that there is no statistical difference in soil microbial populations in soils planted with non-transgenic and transgenic papayas. There is also no indication of the horizontal gene transfer of transgenic plant DNA to soil bacteria and fungi. These results suggest that transgenic papaya has no negative impact on soil microbes.
First Transgenic Papaya Genome DraftA collaboration of research institutions from the United States and China has produced the first draft of the papaya genome. The draft, which spelled more than 90 percent of the plant's gene coding sequence, is also the first for a genetically modified plant. The researchers studied 'SunUp', a transgenic variety resistant to the papaya ring spot virus. Papaya is now the fifth angiosperm to have its genome sequenced, after Arabidopsis, rice, poplar and grape.
Detailed information on the precise location of transgenic modification in the plant is expected to help lower regulatory barriers in countries like Japan, where import of virus-resistant papaya is prohibited.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v4 ... 06856.htmlhttp://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/08/0423papaya.htmlGM Papaya Transgenes Remain Stable For Several Generations http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v26/n6/full/nbt0608-653.html
Emerging Threat to Virus Resistant Transgenic Papayahttp://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/1 ... -98-7-0848 GM Papaya with Improved Resistance to MitesResearchers at the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center and the USDA-ARS Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center have reported that a transgenic papaya with a snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutin [GNA]) gene exhibited improved resistance to carmine spider mites (Tetranychus cinnabarinus).
McCafferty and colleagues plan to further conduct experiments to test the resistance of the transgenic papaya plants to other pathogens and determine the impact of GNA-expressing papayas on the flora and fauna found in Hawaii.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2008.05.007.
Advances in the Development of Biotech Papaya ReviewedInterest in biotech to address problems in papaya has not dwindled. Numerous researches on developing biotech papayas are occurring worldwide as presented by the group of Evelyn Mae Mendoza in one chapter of Biotechnology Annual Review. Among the objectives of these researches include development of varieties with resistance to pests and diseases including papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), mites and Phytophthora. Other groups are also exploring the development of aluminum and herbicide tolerance in papaya, those having fruits with long shelf life, and even the production of vaccines against tuberculosis and cysticercosis, an infectious animal disease.
Mendoza and colleagues stated that papaya is the first genetically modified tree and fruit crop and also the first transgenic crop developed by a public institution that has been commercialized. They note that at present about 14 countries are engaged, through collaborative activities or independent efforts, in the development of a biotech PRSV resistant papaya.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1387-2656(08)00019-7
Local Philippine Partners Get Updates on Biotech Papaya and Eggplant ProjectsPotential partners for the field trials of biotech papaya resistant to papaya ringspot virus and biotech eggplant resistant to fruit-and-shoot borer (Bt eggplant) participated in a series of familiarization activities aimed to enhance their knowledge on these crop biotech products.
Daržinės pupelėsBeans Suited for the Harsh MediterraneanCommon beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are important source of dietary proteins. In the Mediterranean, however, common beans are incapable of growing because of poor soil and limited water. Researchers from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the University of Frankfurt, developed new bean lines capable of tolerating the harsh Mediterranean environment.
These new lines are expected to increase bean yield in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
Lenktasėklė pupelė (Lima bean)
University of Delaware Researcher Builds Better Lima BeanA University of Delaware Cooperative Extension researcher is conducting studies on how to improve lima bean. Emmalea Ernest is seeking to develop new varieties of lima beans that are flavorful, produce consistently high yields and are resistant to disease, especially downy mildew. Ernest is working on baby lima varieties that are resistant to the disease. Another goal of the study is to create high-quality, heat-tolerant Fordhook limas that will flourish despite Delaware's hot and humid summers. Fordhook limas are commonly grown in coastal California because temperatures are never excessively high.
http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2009/jul/lima070308.html.
Pupos African and Asian Countries Collaborate for Legume ProjectRich in nutrients, especially protein, and with high commercial potential, legumes hold great promise for fighting hunger, increasing income and improving soil fertility in many poverty stricken countries, especially in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa where they are considered as staples. A new project aimed at enhancing the productivity of certain legumes for improving food security and reducing poverty among smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia was initiated by 14 national agricultural research institutions from countries including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mali, Myanmar, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
The Tropical Legumes Project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a two-pronged project. The first prong, led by the Generation Challenge Program (GCP) of the Consultative Group on Agricultural Research (CGIAR), will focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and the development of beans, cowpeas, groundnuts and chickpeas. The second component focuses on large-scale breeding and seed multiplication and distribution. Led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) with the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the second prong will also focus on soybean and pigeon pea development. In addition to equipping and supporting project scientists, the project will also 'plant seeds' by supporting Masteral and PhD students from selected regions of Africa and Asia.
http://www.icrisat.org/Media/2007/media21.htm BananaiTest-Tube Bananas Give New Hope to Philippine FarmersThe Philippines is the world's fourth top banana producer and the second largest exporter, with 2.3 million tons valued at around $404 million exported last year. Of the total area around the world, which is planted to banana, 9.38% is found in the Philippines. However, there has been significant reduction in the areas of banana cultivation in the country because of numerous pests, especially the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Infestation by the BBTV forced the farmers in Northern provinces of the Philippines to eradicate all their banana plants.
In 2004, the Department of Agrarian Reform and Isabela State University started the distribution of tissue culture-derived and disease-free banana to farmers. At first, farmers were apprehensive with the technology, since tissue culture plantlets are small and difficult to raise. But after the first planting season, farmers adopted the technology because of increase in yield. Using the disease-free and tissue-cultured banana plantlets has eradicated as much as 85% of the BBTV disease in Northern parts of the Philippines.
New Banana and Plantain Varieties for AfricaThe International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has concluded the five year project to develop new banana and plantain varieties with increased yield and resistance to fungal pathogens and nematodes for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientists from the IITA also developed new methods for deploying the new cultivars in a way that preserves traditional varieties. The US $4 million project was funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and the Belgian government.
http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_de ... &zoneid=81Economic Assessment of Banana Genetic Improvement in AfricaTransgenic bananas currently being developed by Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) could have pro-poor impact. Using simulations of the economic benefits of different technology options, the current strategy endorsed by NARO, of combining conventional and transgenic approaches to mitigate the biotic pressures that cause major economic losses, is essential to sustain banana production systems.
http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/abstract/rr155.aspResearch Seeks to Identify More Productive BananaResearchers from the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) are developing high yielding banana varieties suited for the Brazilian savannas (Cerrado). Cerrado covers more than 20 percent of Brazil's surface. It is characterized by poor chemically-deficient soil and hot semi-humid climate.
GM Bananas Expressing Increased Nutrient ContentsCavendish bananas modified to express increased provitamin A, vitamin E and iron content could be growing in North Australia by next year. Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology have submitted an application for the limited release of the GM bananas to Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. The transgenic banana lines contain the ferritin (iron storage) gene from wild soybean and genes from rice and Arabidopsis for increased vitamin E contents. Five enzyme-coding genes that mediate carotenoid (precursor of vitamin A) biosynthesis from maize, Arabidopsis, and the bacterium Erwinia will be tested. Up to 1,290 banana lines are proposed for release. The technology will be applied for improving banana varieties in Uganda and other parts of Africa, where nutrient deficiency, especially of vitamin A, are prevalent.
New Propagation Techniques Boost Ghana Banana-Plantain ProductionBanana-Plantain, one of the staples in Ghana, was the focus of a food agriculture program of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with other national science organizations. In the past two years, two million Musa seedings were distributed for planting in 1,300 hectares in Ghana. This US$2.5 million worth of seedlings was made possible through a micropropagation technigue developed by the IITA and other partner researchers, and is a part of the four year research program funded by the UK-based Gatsby Foundation. The plant distribution initiatives were spearheaded by Ghana-based organizations led by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Crop Research Institute (CSIR-CRI).
The Ghanaian banana producers comprising 4,000 local farmers have benefited from the said project. A study in 2005 showed that a 300,000 ha of banana plantation produced 2.8 million tons of bananas, valued at $710 million.
http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_de ... &zoneid=81Scientists in Uganda testing Black Sigatoka-resistant BananasScientists at the Kawanda Research Institute in Uganda currently are testing a genetically modified banana that has been developed to be resistant to the Black Sigatoka Fungus. Currently, the only way to fight the disease is by applying massive doses of fungicides – a practice which proves to be more and more ineffective.
http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/355.docu.htmlGM Banana in Uganda: Social Benefits, Costs, and Consumer PerceptionsBanana is a staple crop in Uganda.
Results of MISTICs estimation (maximum incremental social tolerable irreversible costs) indicate that in delaying the approval of a GM banana, Uganda foregoes potential annual benefits ranging approximately from US$179 million to US$365 million. Although GM bananas promise vast benefits, realization of those benefits, however, depends on consumers' perceptions and attitudes and the willingness to pay for the GM technology.
http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00767.aspControlled Release of GM Banana in AustraliaThe Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has received an approval from Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) for the limited and controlled release of up to 17 banana lines genetically modified for disease resistance. The release will take place in Cassowary Coast, Queensland on a maximum total area of 1.4 ha between July 2008 and April 2010.
None of the GM bananas will be used as food or animal feed as the trials only aim to conduct proof of concept experiments on their disease response.
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/pu ... ir079-2007http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebO ... ntID=21450
ŠpinataiNew Leafminer-Resistant Spinach VarietiesResearchers from the U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed two varieties of spinach with impressive natural resistance to this insect. Compared to other methods, natural resistance offers an economical, effective and environmentally friendly way to battle leafminers. The new spinach plants, designated "03-04-09" and "03-04-63," is rated as the world's first spinach breeding lines with significant leafminer resistance. These parent plants serve as an invaluable source of resistance that can be bred into spinach types already popular with growers, home gardeners and shoppers.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/071009.htmMiežiaiScientists Identify Boron Tolerance Barley GeneScientists from the University of Adelaide in Australia have identified the gene in barley responsible for tolerance to extreme levels of boron. Scientists are now using molecular marker-assisted selection to introgress the gene into barley varieties with desirable agronomic properties.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/a ... /5855/1446OGTR Oks Limited Release for GM Wheat and BarleyThe University of Adelaide has been given the approval by the Australian Government's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator for the limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) wheat and barley. The modified traits are enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses, including soil boron and drought, and increased beta glucan levels. Beta glucan is a plant polysaccharide (carbohydrate) which forms part of the soluble fiber in cereal grains. The limited trial will be done in the Marion local council (Adelaide), South Australia from May 2008 to June 2009.
NABNet to Improve Barley Varieties for North AfricaThe North Africa Biosciences Network (NABNet), one of the four networks of NEPAD/Biosciences Initiative, has started a project aimed at improving barley production in North Africa. Poor yield of barley in the area has been attributed to lack of drought and salinity tolerant cultivars. Although the available varieties in North Africa are mainly suitable for livestock consumption, people are increasingly eating them due to lack of better alternatives, the director of NABNet Prof Mohamed Elarbi noted. It was with this in mind that WABNet organized a meeting of experts in Tunisia recently to review progress of the project titled "Genetic improvement of nutritional quality and drought and salinity tolerance of North African barley germplasm" aimed at improving the crop. With funding from the Canadian International Development Agency, the NABNet Barley team agreed to seek collaboration from relevant regional and international organizations to undertake comprehensive genetic resources evaluation, physiological and biochemical characterization, biotechnological improvement and field assessment.
MorkosGM Carrots Provide More CalciumGenetically modified (GM) carrots developed by researchers in Texas A&M and Baylor College of Medicine were reported to provide more calcium. The group of Jay Harris reported that the GM carrots they developed contain almost twice as much calcium as regular carrots.
Harris and colleagues also demonstrated an alternative means of fortifying vegetables with bioavailable calcium. The improvement of bioavailable calcium in foods may lead to more calcium consumption in the diet. Their feeding studies conducted using mice and humans showed that the biotech carrot can highly increase calcium bioavailability, as much as 41 percent. This higher bioavailabilty was influenced by increasing the expression of a single plant calcium transporter, called sCAX1, leading to an improved plant calcium absorption.
http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=1044http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0709005105v1Pakankamai nauja
SalotosCalcium-Biofortified LettuceA group of researchers from the Kansas State University, Texas A&M University and Baylor College of Medicine in the U.S. successfully developed transgenic lettuce lines accumulating significantly higher levels of calcium.
The transgenic lettuce lines were found to contain 25 to 32 percent more calcium than their non-transgenic counterparts. They also exhibited fertility and robust growth in greenhouse conditions. Using a panel of highly trained descriptive panelists, the biofortified lettuce plants were evaluated and no significant differences were detected in flavor, bitterness or crispness when compared with controls.
Biofortified or Ordinary Lettuce - They Taste the SameOnce available in the market, is it possible to distinguish whether the lettuce in a hamburger sandwich is GM or not by taste alone? There is no difference in flavor, bitterness or crispness between calcium-biofortified lettuce and conventional lettuce.
Sensory analysis studies are important to determine efficacy of biofortified foods and an important component in the public acceptance of genetically modified foods.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jour ... 4/abstractTuoposGM Poplar for Phytoremediating Contaminated WatersScientists have known that plants can be used for the treatment of environmental pollutants. They can act as solar-powered pump-and-treat systems, capable of extracting water-soluble contaminants from polluted soils and metabolize or store them afterwards in specialized tissues. The process is known as phytoremediation. Although plants can be used to remove organic pollutants from soils, the activity is often too slow to be of practical use. Scientists are hoping to speed up phytoremediation through the introduction of genes that are known to be involved in metabolism of pollutants.
By introducing the mammalian gene coding for cytochrome P450 2E1, a group of US researchers have developed transgenic poplar trees with enhanced phytoremediation capabilities for removing and degrading pollutants like trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride and carbon tetrachloride from soil and ground water. Most of these compounds, known as carcinogens or neurotoxins, are widely used in industries and found their way into groundwater because of improper disposal. The GM poplar trees were also found to be capable of removing air pollutants like vinyl chloride, chloroform and benzene, substances usually used in petroleum and plastic processing. Because of the concerns that the GM trees might get into natural forests, the authors of the study believe that transgenic poplars may be a good choice. Poplars are fast growing and can grow for several years without flowering, at which time they could be harvested to prevent seeds from generating.
http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article ... leID=37313http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0703276104v1If approved by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the trials will be performed in a former oil storage facility in Indiana.
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008a/0801 ... ysler.htmlA poplar renaissance in Europe?The fast-growing poplar provides renewable raw materials for the paper industry and is becoming increasingly important as a source of climate-friendly, low-cost fuel.
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/wood/poplar/596.docu.htmlIr Lietuvoje kuriamos genetiškai modifikuotos drebulėshttp://gmolt.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/l ... i-medziai/Kininės pupuolės (Cowpeas)UC to Research on Improved Cowpeas for AfricaA three-year grant of about $1.7 million was awarded to the University of California, Riverside by the Generation Challenge Program of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to develop improved cowpea varieties for Africa using genomic technology.
Scientists will develop varieties that are drought tolerant and have improved resistance to pests and diseases. They will collaborate with African partners in the national breeding programs of Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon as well as with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria to identify genes linked to important traits such as tolerance to drought and resistance to pests.
Three Striga Resistant Cowpea Varieties Available for AfricaStriga (S. gesneroides), a plant parasitic weed or witchweed is the cause of more than 40% loss in annual cowpea yield in sub-Saharan Africa. A three-year study by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) resulted in the development of three new cowpea varieties with genetic resistance to Striga.
The research supported by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Generation Challenge Program (GCP) of The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA is a longstanding effort to alleviate infestations of cowpea by the parasite. The three new cowpea varieties and those which are under development will benefit the sub-Saharan countries Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, and Cameroun.
http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_de ... &zoneid=81Žemės riešutaiARS Releases Nematode, Virus Resistant Peanut VarietyThe US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (ARS) has released a new peanut variety that may help farmers in their fight against two major peanut problems. The new hybrid, Tifguard, is the first peanut variety to show resistance to both the peanut root knot nematode and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). These diseases severely limit peanut yield in the US, where annual production reaches well above one million tons.
Not only did Tifguard exhibit higher resistance to TSWV in field trials, it also produced higher yields than standard check cultivars when grown in areas with little or no nematode pressure. Tifguard seeds will be available to farmers by the 2009 planting season.
CukranendrėsBiotech Sugarcane for IndonesiaSugarcane consumption for food and beverage is projected to increase especially in the rural areas in Indonesia according to a study by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia. With the limiting land and water resources, the expected demand for sugar till 2010 of 3 million tons of sugarcane annually will be hardly met. To meet this challenge, Indonesian and German scientists developed a transgenic sugarcane that has greater sugarcane yield with minimum fertilizer requirement.
70 transgenic lines are now being evaluated in a field trial. The selected line will not be patented and will be made available to farmers.
Sugar Cane and Sorghum: Two Very Similar GenomesA new finding by researchers from CIRAD (Centre Internationale de la Researche et Developpment) will facilitate sugarcane genomic work. This came about when CIRAD's researchers, who pioneered the exploitation of similar, simpler species such as rice and sorghum, recently confirmed the strong similarity of the sorghum and sugarcane genomes. The sorghum genome contains ten times fewer chromosomes than that of sugarcane and the complete sequence has been available since autumn 2007.
These results will make it easier to pinpoint useful agronomic and pest and disease resistance genes in the sugarcane genome, using the sorghum genomic sequence.
http://www.cirad.fr/en/actualite/communique.php?id=894Improving Sucrose Synthesis in Indonesian SugarcaneIncreasing the capacity of sugarcane to produce sucrose was the aim of a research group from the University of Jember and Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia.
The researchers genetically engineered a sugarcane variety cvR579 to contain the cDNA of sugarcane sucrose phosphate synthase (SoSPS1) gene in its spindle leaves.
Production of sugarcane with increased sugar content in the spindle leaves would be a very important contribution in the development of food crops with usable biological mass for biofuel production.
http://journal.discoveryindonesia.com/i ... File/82/89APCoAB Publication on Micropropagation of SugarcaneThe Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB), a program of the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), with funding support of FAO has released a publication entitled "Micropropagation for Quality Seed Production in Sugarcane in Asia and the Pacific". The report gives a step-by-step protocol for the production of disease-free planting material in sugarcane using meristem tip culture method. Field multiplication of in vitro raised plantlets aimed at reducing the farmer-level cost of seedlings is also detailed. Success stories of sugarcane micropropagation for seed production in India, Australia and the Philippines are recounted.
http://www.apcoab.org/documents/sugar_pub.pdfInvitation to comment on release of GM sugarcaneAustralia's Acting Gene Technology Regulator has prepared a consultation Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP), now open for comments, for the proposed release of genetically modified (GM) sugarcane. The University of Queensland has applied for a limited and controlled release to undertake research with up to 3000 sugarcane lines genetically modified for altered sugar production. The release is proposed to take place at fifteen sites in Queensland between 2008 and 2014. None of the GM plant materials from the trial will be used in human food or animal feed.
Monsanto Takes US$ 209 Million Foray into SugarcaneMonsanto Company announced plans to acquire the sugar cane-breeding company Aly Participacoes Ltda., in a bid to tap the growing demand for raw sugar and biofuels. Monsanto agreed to pay US$ 290 million for the Brazil-based company, which operates CanaVialis S.A. and Alellyx S.A.
CanaVialis is the world's largest private sugarcane breeding company. Alellyx, on the other hand, is an applied genomics company that focuses on developing biotech traits primarily for sugarcane. Monsanto has previously established a licensing and trait-collaboration agreement with these companies to develop and commercialize Roundup Ready and Bt insect-protected technologies for sugarcane growers in Brazil.
"We expect the additions of CanaVialis and Alellyx will allow us to combine our breeding expertise with key large-acre crops with their breeding expertise in sugarcane. Our goal with this approach is to increase yields in sugarcane while reducing the amount of resources needed for this crop's cultivation, just as we're doing now for corn, soybeans and cotton," said Carl Casale, executive vice president of global strategy and operations for Monsanto. Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane, the largest exporter of finished sugar, and the world's second-largest producer of ethanol after the United States.
http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=656Tikrasis kajanas (Pigeon pea)ICRISAT Releases World's First CMS Pigeonpea HybridPigeonpea is an important crop in India where it is grown on about 3.5 million hectares. The crop produces reasonable yields under unfavorable agro-ecological conditions making it suitable for rainfed agriculture. Recently, scientists from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) developed the world's first cytoplasmic male sterile pigeonpea hybrid. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is important in the hybrid seed industry, as it obviates the need for labor intensive hand emasculation (removal of anther or male gametes).
The high yielding and disease resistant hybrid, a result of 25 years of research, gives about 30-40% yield advantage over popular pigeonpea varieties. Hyderabad-based Pravardhan Seeds will market the hybrid under the brand 'Pushkal'.
http://www.icrisat.org/Media/2008/media11.htmSpanguolėsNew Cranberry Variety with Increased AntioxidantsScientists from the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed a new raspberry variety with higher anthocyanins levels compared to ordinary cultivars.
The next step is to produce a commercially acceptable cultivar for growers to use.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080108.htmLiucernaUS Seeks Comment on GM AlfalfaThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment to shape the scope of an environmental impact statement (EIS) regarding the status of the genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa. The EIS will be prepared to evaluate the potential effects of deregulating the GE alfalfa. APHIS has outlined important issues that will be addressed in the EIS. These include impacts on food and feed, U.S. trade and threatened and endangered species.
Baltasis dobilasLimited Release of GM Clover in AustraliaThe Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received an application for the limited and controlled release of clover genetically modified to resist infection by the alfalfa mosaic virus from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The purpose of the trial is to conduct experiments to evaluate the agronomic performance, including seed yield, of the GM white clover line under field conditions. OGTR has prepared a Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for this application, which concludes that the proposed release poses negligible risks to people and the environment.
If approved, the trial will be conducted at one site in New South Wales, on a maximum area of 633 m2 from 2009 to 2011. DPI is bound to adopt certain measures to restrict the dissemination of GM plant materials, such as surrounding the trial site with a pollen trap and postharvest monitoring of fields.
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/pu ... ir089-2008 KavaTissue Culture Innovations for Coffee Plantlet ProductionStrategies to improve coffee plantlet production in vitro has been revolutionized by the Ecom Industrial Laboratory in Nicaragua in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). A million plantlets were produced in 2007 through tissue culture innovations using the Rita(r)-type bioreactors. The embryos are immersed in a nutrient solution for a few minutes a day up to a very advanced stage of germination. These then were tranferred to a newly developed horticultural substrate in the field. The direct transfer of plantlets to the field reduced the production costs, bypassing germination and plantlet growth in vitro.
Currently, there are 3500 bioreactors producing 250,000 pregerminated embryos a month which can be acclimatized directly to nursery conditions through weaning tunnels and acclimatization procedures. More than 70% of the germinated embryos grow into plants a few weeks after sowing.
Further studies are being conducted on how to synchronize embryo development in bioreactors and on guaranteeing that the regenerated in vitro plantlets are genetically true-to-type. The laboratory workers are now aiming to produce 2.4 million plantlets in 2008.
http://www.cirad.fr/en/actualite/communique.php?id=855BraškėsGM Strawberries Tolerant to Salt StressA group of researchers from India successfully developed transgenic strawberry lines tolerant to salt stress.
The transgenic lines were found to be stable in successive generations. Compared to their non-GM counterparts, the transgenic lines were found to contain enhanced levels of proline (amino acid involved in osmotic stress response), chlorophyll and total soluble proteins. The growth pattern of the GM lines showed no abnormality, except that their growth rate is slower than other plants.
NuorodaSorosBiodegradable Plastic Polymer from GM SwitchgrassScientists from the US based company Metabolix Inc. have developed transgenic switchgrass accumulating high levels of the polymer polyhydroxybuterate (PHB). PHB, usually produced by microorganisms during stress conditions, has attracted attention because it has properties similar to the thermoplastic polymer polypropylene. Unlike polypropylene, PHB is biodegradable. Biodegradable plastics can significantly reduce petroleum consumption and may prove to be beneficial for the environment. The high cost of PHB production compared to plastics produced from petrochemicals, however, limits its widespread commercial use.
PHB production was monitored in more than 400 switchgrass transformants grown under in vitro and glasshouse conditions. The GM switchgrass accumulated as much as 3.72% dry weight of the polymer in leaf tissues and 1.23% dry weight of PHB in whole tillers. The study presents the first successful expression of a functional multigenic pathway in switchgrass.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 08.00350.xSvidrė ? (Perenial Ryegrass)Limited and Controlled Release of Perennial Rye Grass and Tall FescueAn invitation to comment was released by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator of Australia for the Victorian Department of Primary Industries application for a limited and controlled release of 500 perennial ryegrass and tall fescue lines, genetically modified for improved forage qualities. The field trial will be conducted to assess their agronomic performance and forage properties at one site in the shire of Southern Grampians, Victoria on a total area of up to 800 m2 between 2008 and 2010. Based on the prepared Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plant, the proposed release would pose negligible risk to human health and safety, or to the environment.
Svogūnas, česnakas, porasNZ Applies for Field Evaluation of GM Onion, GarlicNew Zealand's Crop and Food Research (CFR) has applied to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to undertake a field evaluation of genetically modified (GM) onion, spring onion, garlic and leek.
The proposed new field evaluation site would be a maximum of 2.5 ha in size and would allow space for planting buffer zones of non-GM plant material as well as space to investigate new lines of plants with potentially improved agronomic and quality traits.
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/news-events/a ... 80411.htmlOnion Without the TearsCan tears be far away when onions are sliced for a culinary treat? Senior scientist Dr. Colin Eady of New Zealand's Crop and Food Research (CFR) and his Japanese colleagues think that a "tearless onion" may be possible in the future through the use of gene-silencing technology.
"By shutting down the lachrymatory factor synthase gene, we have stopped valuable sulphur compounds being converted to the tearing agent, and instead made them available for redirection into compounds, some of which are known for their flavor and health properties," said Dr. Eady. While the idea of a 'tearless onion" is exciting, the scientist also noted that sustainable and efficient production would still be a major concern.
BaklažanasAnalysis of Potential Impacts of Bt Eggplant in IndiaVijesh Krishna and Matin Qaim have concluded that the Bt eggplant technology can reduce insecticide applications and pest-related yield losses, thus increasing the productivity of eggplant production in India. The results of their study published in the journal Agricultural Economics used data from Bt eggplant multilocation field trials, as well as survey data from 360 eggplant farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal. The three Indian states together account for almost half of the total eggplant production in the country.
The researchers stated that the aggregate economic surplus gains of Bt eggplant hybrids could be around Rs. 4.9 billion (US$108 million) per year. About half of the overall gains will be captured by consumers through a projected decrease in eggplant prices. In addition, they have calculated that eggplant farmers will benefit from the Bt eggplant technology on expected health cost savings which are worth around Rs. 135-184 million (US$3-4 million) per year.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2007.00290.xLocal Philippine Partners Get Updates on Biotech Papaya and Eggplant ProjectsPotential partners for the field trials of biotech papaya resistant to papaya ringspot virus and biotech eggplant resistant to fruit-and-shoot borer (Bt eggplant) participated in a series of familiarization activities aimed to enhance their knowledge on these crop biotech products.
BrokoliaiSyngenta to Develop Heat-Tolerant BroccoliSyngenta Seeds Inc. has teamed with California-based R&D Ag Inc. to develop heat-tolerant broccoli varieties. The agreement gives Syngenta a license for R&D Ag's patent on heat-tolerant broccoli. In addition, it will also provide Syngenta with research rights as well as exclusive, global marketing rights for joint broccoli hybrids that combine R&D Ag's heat tolerant germplasm with Syngenta-developed germplasm and technology.
Broccoli is a cool-weather crop restricted to specific geographical production regions and planting seasons. The development of heat-tolerant varieties may allow for expansion of the broccoli acreage, increasing options for growers. Syngenta anticipates the first commercial sales of these new broccoli hybrids in 2011.
ŠilkmedisGM Mulberry with Increased Salinity and Water Stress ToleranceMulberry is important for the sericulture industry in India. It is also being extensively used in agroforestry and horticulture programs. Development of mulberry varieties suitable for different agricultural and climatic conditions is important for maintaining the silk production industry in the country, which is the world's second largest. By inserting the gene hva1 from barley, plant biologists from the University of New Delhi successfully obtained mulberry trees with increased tolerance to salinity and dehydration stress.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/a2x ... 782d8&pi=6TabakasTobacco with Reduced Nornicotine by Targeted MutationBy exposing the plants to the chemical mutagen EMS, a group of French scientists obtained tobacco harboring nonsense and missense mutations (resulting to proteins with incorrect amino acid composition) of the cytochrome P450 gene. The mutants obtained have very low to negligible nornicotine content. Backcrossing the mutants with an elite variety expressing reduced nornicotine (obtained in another study using traditional breeding) produced plants that are phenotypically identical to the parents. The low-nornicotine varieties obtained are therefore non-genetically modified, as it resulted from a combination of mutation and traditional breeding.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p27 ... 0f8a7&pi=0GM Tobacco Expressing AprotininAprotinin is a natural serine protease inhibitor used in medical procedures to lower inflammatory response and reduce blood loss associated with cardiac and liver surgery. This compound is also significant in preventing degradation of protein products in research and manufacturing processes and has been administered as a treatment for acute pancreatitis. Aprotinin was first identified in bovine lungs, but can also be obtained from recombinant yeasts.
Scientists from Bayer Bioscience in Belgium have developed transgenic tobacco plants expressing elevated levels of aprotinin.
The aprotinin obtained by the scientists was found to be biologically active, requiring minimal alteration before use.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 08.00321.xHigh Salinity Tolerant Tobacco Expressing Recombinant TFBy modifying the expression of AtDREB1A, a gene coding for a DREB transcription factor, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have obtained transgenic tobacco with increased salinity tolerance.
The transgenic tobacco lines exhibited longer root length and higher chlorophyll content compared to control plants. During high salinity stress, the GM plants synthesized higher levels of soluble sugars. Soluble sugars are known to act as osmoprotectants during stress conditions.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2007.11.002RNAi to Reduce Levels of a Key Carcinogen in TobaccoCertain compounds produced by tobacco, like nitrosonornicotine and other nitrosamines, have been shown to be carcinogenic to laboratory animals, and possibly to humans. Nitrosonornicotine (NNN), a Grade 2B carcinogen, is produced by nitrosation of nornicotine (a nicotine by-product) during curing, aging, processing and smoking of tobacco. Nornicotine, on the other hand, has been implicated in increased risks for hypertension, lung cancer, and other respiratory and gastrointestinal pathologies. The recent identification of the major nicotine demethylase (key enzyme that converts nornicotine to NNN) gene has allowed the reduction of NNN content of cultivated tobacco using biotechnological approaches.
Using RNA interference, scientists from the University of Kentucky and North Carolina State University have developed tobacco lines exhibiting up to six-fold decrease in nornicotine and NNN content. Results of large-scale field trials showed that the GM lines are comparable to non-transgenic tobacco in terms of agronomic properties.
The same technology has been employed to reduce the levels of caffeine in coffee, gossypol in cotton, and linolenic acid in soybean.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 08.00324.xTransgenic Tobacco Accumulating a High Level PolymerTransgenic plants may be an economical means of producing novel feedstocks, such as biodegradable polymers, if limitations to product accumulation and expression of unwanted traits can be minimized. Plants producing polymers with important industrial, agricultural and medical applications, such as polyhydroxybutyrate and polyaminoacids, have been developed. Expressions of these polymers though were accompanied by limited fitness.
Scientists from University of Rostock and Humboldt University in Germany have developed transgenic tobacco producing cyanophycin, an amino acid polymer that is the only known non-protein nitrogen storage polymer in cyanobacteria. The researchers targeted the expression of a bacterial cyanophycin synthase gene in the chloroplast, to minimize the unwanted effects of polymer accumulation. The transgenic plants produced as much as 6.8 percent (dry weight) of cyanophycin, with minor or no stress symptoms. This is more than five-fold higher than the previously published value. Although all lines tested were fertile, the transgenic lines produced fewer seeds compared to control plants.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 07.00320.xGM Tobacco Expressing Cervical Cancer VaccineCervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in developing countries and the second most prevalent cancer in women. Almost all cervical cancers result from human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Although vaccines against the virus, based on virus-like particles rather on attenuated HPV, have recently been made available, their high cost prohibits their widespread use especially in developing countries.
In search of ways that will make HPV vaccine production cheaper, scientists from Spain and France developed transgenic tobacco lines expressing the HPV protein L1. L1 is a major structural protein in the viral capsid (protein shell) that aggregates to form non-infectious virus-like particles (VLP). Since it can induce both humoral and cellular responses, VLPs are prime candidates in the production of HPV vaccines.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 08.00338.xFunctional Human IL13 from GM TobaccoInterleukin 13 (IL13) is a regulatory cytokine (signaling protein) that plays a central role in mediating immune responses. It prevents excessive allergic inflammation in tissues by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory proteins such as tumor necrosis factors. IL13 has the potential to treat numerous human diseases such as type-1 diabetes, chronic arthritis and several types of cancer. It is also needed in providing host protection against gastrointestinal helminths. Recently, scientists showed that IL13 is effective in preventing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication. Despite these promises, treatment of human diseases by IL13 may be limited by the unavailability of functional IL13 at a low cost. Currently, large scale production of IL13 is dependent on cell based expression systems. IL13 obtained using these systems must first be purified since both biologically active and inactive forms are produced. Isolation of functional IL13 increases the production cost.
In search of ways that will make its production cheaper, scientists from Canada developed transgenic tobacco lines expressing biologically active IL13. This is the first report of interleukin 13 production in plants. The team reported IL13 accumulation as high as 0.15 percent of the total soluble proteins in leaves. Simulated gastric and intestinal fluid digestion demonstrated the stability of the GM tobacco-derived cytokine.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pd ... 08.00337.xMedicines Spring From Tobacco PlantsNew hope for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients will spring from tobacco plants, after Bayer and its subsidiary Icon Genetics announced the development of a new production process that can be used to produce biotech drugs in tobacco plants. NHL is a malignant disorder affecting the lymphatic system. The objective of the new therapy is to activate the patient's immune system, enabling the malignant cells to be targeted and destroyed by the body's own defense system. The clinical phase for the biopharmaceutical could start in 2009.
"This project is intended to improve our chances of finding new therapies for life-threatening diseases by using drugs obtained with biotechnological methods," explained Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, a member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG whose responsibilities include innovation. "Not all cancers are the same. There are many types of tumor disease which have to be treated individually with specific active substances. The objective is to use this process to produce an individual drug for each patient."
The production of "personalized medicines" using biotechnology processes is an important research area. Proteins produced in tobacco plants can be obtained rapidly and in high yields, and this offers prospects for therapies which have previously been impracticable because of the length of time taken to produce them or their economic viability.
Scientists Map Tobacco GenomeResearchers from the North Carolina State University (NCSU) have completed the nearly five-year, $17.6 million effort to map the tobacco genome.
Tobacco's genetic blueprint will be important since the crop is widely used as a model in a wide range of plant studies, particularly in studies of solanaceous plants (tomato, eggplant, pepper, potato etc.).
http://news.ncsu.edu/news/2008/06/dctobaccogenome.php GM Tobacco to Clean-up Soil and Groundwater ContaminantScientists from the University of York and University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom developed transgenic tobacco that can accumulate and 'detoxify' the haloalkane 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2- DCA). 1,2 DCA is used in the synthesis of vinyl chloride. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has listed the compound as a priority pollutant and probable human carcinogen.
The scientists inserted the bacterial genes dhlA and dhlB genes into the tobacco genome. The genes encode enzymes, typically lacking in plants, that have the ability to detoxify a range of halogenated aliphatics (such as 1,2-DCA). The authors pointed out that their findings represent a significant advance in the development of a low-cost, phytoremedial approach toward the clean-up of halogenated organic pollutants from contaminated soil and groundwater.
http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/content ... 147/3/1192Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Vaccine from GM TobaccoGenetically modified tobacco can act as a speedy and safe antibiotic factory for personalized treatment against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to new findings from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Plants are engineered to produce the specific antibody. In this case, Levy and his team infected the tobacco plants with modified tobacco mosaic virus carrying the antibody gene. When introduced to someone diagnosed with NHL, the plant-derived vaccine stimulates the patient's immune system to find and destroy the malignant cells.
In addition, the scientists found out that the way plants attach sugar molecules to the antibody, during biochemical processing, does not impair the immunogenicity or affect the safety of the vaccines. The study presents the first human tests of an injectable vaccine produced from plants.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/ ... 5.abstracthttp://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2 ... ccine.htmlInsect Antifreeze Protein Confers Cold Tolerance in TobaccoA group of scientists from Xianjiang University in China developed cold tolerant transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing a beetle AFP. Low temperature is one of the limiting factors in the growth, productivity and distribution of plants. Higher yields could be achieved either by improving the freezing tolerance of a crop, or by increasing the survival of freezing sensitive plants following light frosts.
Compared with wild type tobacco, the transgenic plants preserved the integrity of their cell membrane when grown at -1°C for 3 days. The scientists are now looking for ways to introduce the gene into cold sensitive crops such as potato and tomato.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/c18 ... lltext.pdf or
GM Tobacco Detects Presence of Nitrogen DioxideLandmines or explosive devices in post-conflict zones in many parts of the world remain a threat to civilians. Scientists in South Africa are hoping that a genetically engineered tobacco plant can contribute to solving this problem by detecting the presence of nitrogen dioxide, a marker for landmines. They joined a team from the University of Stellenbosch and the Danish biotechnology firm, Aresa, that developed "RedDetect", a bio-sensor technology in a weed, Thale Cress.
The weed which changes color from green to red when it detects nitrogen dioxide leaching from mines buried in the soil, is too small to be seen from a safe distance. Hence, the tobacco plant is being studied as a more viable alternative using genetic engineering.
http://ecoworldly.com/2008/07/29/geneti ... landmines/Insect-Resistant Tobacco Plants Harboring an Elderberry GeneBy inserting a gene coding for type-2 ribosome-inactivating protein (SNA-I') from elderberry (Sambucus nigra), scientists at the Ghent University in Belgium have developed transgenic tobacco lines resistant to several insect species including the beet armyworm and tobacco aphid.
In addition, significant increases in mortality were noted for insects fed on the transgenic lines as compared to wild type plants.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11248-008-9215-2PaprikaKeyGene and ARS Partner for Pepper ResearchKeyGene Inc. and the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service signed a cooperative research and development agreement to collaborate on the characterization of pepper germplasm with enhanced flavor. The three year collaboration will be based on an existing culinary pepper project developed by Dr. John Stommel and his colleagues at the ARS Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Laboratory. The ARS pepper program has successfully utilized diverse Capsicum germplasm resources to breed award winning pepper cultivars. KeyGene will apply its fingerprinting technology to identify the pepper accessions to develop bell pepper cultivars with improved taste characteristics.
http://www.keygene.com/keygene/pdf/PR%2 ... rtment.pdfBatatai (saldžiosios bulvės)
Priorities for Sweet Potato Research in Developing CountriesMore than 95 percent of the global sweet potato crop is cultivated in developing countries. The humble crop, often underrated, is packed with vitamin A and carbohydrates. It is a staple food for impoverished countries in Africa, South America and Asia. Despite its promises as a superstar crop, sweet potato has received little attention for crop improvement. A study conducted by the International Potato Center (CIP) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) identified priorities for sweet potato improvement in developing countries.
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi ... 42/5/1200/Sweet Potato Out-yields Corn in Ethanol Production StudyIn search of alternative biofuel feedstocks, scientists of the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) reported the suitability of sweet potatoes grown in Maryland and tropical cassava in Alabama as biofuel feedstocks. The sweet potato yielded carbohydrate comparable to the lower limit produced by sugarcane, the highest yielding ethanol crop. Sweet potato and cassava also require less fertilizer and pesticide than corn. Once the economical harvesting and processing techniques are developed, the data suggests that these crops have greater potential than corn as ethanol sources.
RNA Silencing-Mediated Resistance to a Crinivirus in Sweet PotatoSweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) is one of the most destructive pathogens of sweet potato. SPCSV can reduce sweet potato yields by 50 percent. It can also cause various synergistic disease complexes when co-infecting with other viruses, including sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV). Scientists from the International Potato Center, University of Helsinki and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences developed genetically modified sweet potato varieties with increased resistance to SPCSV.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1364-3703.2008.00480.x