Biotechnology and Crops E Souza Professor Plant Breeding

Biotechnology and Crops E. Souza Professor, Plant Breeding and Genetics

Basic Areas of Biotechnology Research Sequence and Function n Sequencing all the DNA of corn, rice, and Arabidopsis (a small mustard). n Comparable Human research: The Human Genome Project

Sequence and function TATAGTCCAUG Gene sequence Arabidopsis Design DNA probes TATAGTCCAUG Gene sequence Potato Model proteins Protein structure and function New understanding of plant function and faster approaches to crop improvement

Basic Areas of Biotechnology Research Structure and Function Diagnostics n Identifying genes that cause disease resistance or quality enhancement. n Human research: Identifying ‘cancer’ genes

Consensus map: Triticeae Group 1 Chromosome. Wheat Rye Barley Rice Maize Source: Graingenes

Autoradiogram of DNA marker from oat CDO 64 One of many gene markers used to construct maps of cereals. Source: Graingenes

Difficult traits such as head scab resistance are easier to select by selecting directly for DNA rather than the disease Marker Assisted Selection Smaller DNA Large DNA

Basic Areas of Biotechnology Research Structure and Function Diagnostics Genetic Engineering of Crops n Defined by transfer of genetic material from one organism to another through non-sexual means n Comparable human research: ‘Gene therapy’ treatments

Genetic Engineering of Crops Isolation of gene Development of new ‘construct’ or ‘vector’ n A carrier often small circular or linear DNA n Other genes for efficient transfer n Regulatory genes to activate the target gene Insertion into plant Selection and recovery of plants with activated gene

Regulation of Genetically Engineered Plants GE plants for lab use n n Regulated by internal biological safety committees Vast majority of engineering ‘events’ Field testing and transport – APHIS Safety and use – EPA, FDA, or both Marketing – All of the above plus other nation’s regulatory agencies

Frequency of Journal Publications Listed in AGRICOLA Database

Traits Used for Enhancing Crops Herbicide resistance n n n Roundup ready Bialophos resistant Bromoxinyl resistant Bt organic insecticide n Different forms of Cry proteins from a pathogen of insects Virus resistance n coat protein genes

Potatoes in foreground are normal, background protected from Round-up Herbicide by a modified enzyme from bacteria.

Potatoes with Cry proteins from B. thuringensis protected from Colorado potato beetles

Genetically Enhanced Daws Wheat Resistant to Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus from ‘ 96 -’ 97 Field Test

Types of traits incorporated into genetically enhanced crops, 2002 Source: C. James, 2002, ISAAA

Percent of land area planted to transgenic crops by country 2003 – total global land area planted: 167 million acres http: //www. colostate. edu/programs/lifesciences/Transgenic. Crops/current. html#crops

Relative percent of transgenic cultivars by crop, 2002 http: //www. isaaa. org/kc/Publications/pdfs/isaaabriefs/Briefs%2027. pdf

Traits Used for GE Crops: Crop Quality Ripening gene modifications Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines

Traits Used for GE Crops: Crop Quality Ripening gene modifications Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines Vitamin A enhancement of rice Additional gluten genes Oil composition Essential oils/flavors

GE Crops: Risks and Problems Consumer acceptance n Safety/allergenicity (Perceived and actual) n Naturalness

GE Crops: Risks and Problems Consumer acceptance Poor Utilization n n Traits are expensive – the cost of technology as described in essay Tendency to overuse

GE Crops: Risks and Problems Consumer acceptance Naturalness Poor Utilization Weediness n n Weediness of crop Escape of genes

GE Crops: Risks and Problems Consumer acceptance Naturalness Poor Utilization Weediness Safety/Labeling n n Segregation of products expensive Labeling is cheap – the process to match the food to the label is very expensive

So Why Do Genetic Engineering? In some cases we will not n Roundup Ready Wheat Terminated in 2004 Reduce costs and lower agriculture’s environmental impact n n less pesticides lower rate and toxicity Traits available throughout third world n Competitive edge?