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Plant Biotechnology

2007. Dr. Celia Villanueva

Whos afraid of GMOs?

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When do we use genetic engineering in crops?

- the trait to be introduced is not present in the germplasm of the crop - the trait is very difficult to improve by conventional breeding methods - it will take a very long time to introduce and/or improve such trait in the crop by conventional methods

Applications
- developing produce that stays fresh longer (delayed ripening traits) - developing virus-resistant crops - developing insect-resistant crops - increasing the nutritional quality (amounts of vitamins) - vegetable oil with more stearate (healthier fatty acid) - developing novel ornamental crops

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http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

GMOs

Sources: www.habitat.org.uk www.boku.ac.at

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FLAVR SAVR Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum

Trait - Delayed softening through suppression of polygalacturonase (PG) enzyme activity Delayed softening tomatoes produced by inserting an additional copy of the polygalacturonase (PG) encoding gene in the anti-sense orientation in order to reduce expression of the endogenous PG gene and thus reduce pectin degradation. Company Information: Calgene Inc.

Vitamin A Enriched Rice

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Vitamin A Enriched Rice

Transgenic rice producing -carotene (precursor of vitamin A) Rice lacks vitamin A Rice is a major food for Asia and Africa 250,000 children go blind each year because of insufficient vitamin A

Carica papaya (Papaya)

Trait - Resistance to viral infection, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) - inserting virus-derived sequences that encode the PRSV coat protein (CP) by microparticle bombardment of plant tissues

Cornell University

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Papaya Ringspot Disease

Gossypium hirsutum (Cotton) Bollgard

Resistance to lepidopteran pests including cotton bollworm, pink bollworm, budworm. Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation Monsanto Company

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Zea mays (Maize) BT Corn

- resistance to European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)

Microparticle bombardment of plant tissue Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.

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Agrobacterium-mediated

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Microprojectile bombardment OR Biolistics

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Crown gall disease in plants

biologi.uio.no/plfys/haa/gif/bi150.jpg

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/seminar/2002/method/dsmeth/Agrobacter ium%20Image.jpg

www.nature.com

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Agrobacterium tumefaciens

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/seminar/2002/method/dsmeth/Agrobacter ium%20Image.jpg

biologi.uio.no/plfys/haa/gif/bi150.jpg

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Gene gun or biolistics

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

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Plant Transformation

How are GM crops made?

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How are GM crops made?

How are GM crops made?

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How are GM crops made?

How are GM crops made?

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How are GM crops made?

How are GM crops made?

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How are GM crops made?

Genetic engineering allows the transfer of a specific gene for a desirable trait
Gene
Agrobacterium Gene transfer to plant tissue
infection

Vector

Gene construct
Gold bullets

shooting

Particle bombardment Selection

Variety

Greenhouse selection/testing Regeneration Field testing

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Traits being introduced into plants

Input traits Output traits Value-added traits

Input traits
An input trait helps producers by lowering the cost of production, improving crop yields, and reducing the level of chemicals required for the control of insects, diseases, and weeds. Input traits that are commercially available or being tested in plants:
Resistance to destruction by insects Tolerance to broad-spectrum herbicides Resistance to diseases caused by viruses, bacteria fungi, and worms Protection from environmental stresses such as heat, cold, drought, and high salt concentration
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

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Output Traits
An "output" trait helps consumers by enhancing the quality of the food and fiber products they use.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

Output Traits
Output traits that consumers may one day be able to take advantage of:
Nutritionally enhanced foods that contain more starch or protein, more vitamins, more anti-oxidants (to reduce the risk of certain cancers), and fewer transfatty acids (to lower the risk of heart disease) Foods with improved taste, increased shelf-life, and better ripening characteristics Trees that make it possible to produce paper with less environmental damage Nicotine-free tobacco Ornamental flowers with new colors, fragrances, and increase longevity
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

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http://image05.webshots.com/5/2/8/81/173520881ikVyHc_ph.jpg

Value-added traits
Genes are being placed into plants that completely change the way they are used. Plants may be used as "manufacturing facilities" to inexpensively produce large quantities of materials including:
Therapeutic proteins for disease treatment and vaccination Textile fibers Biodegradable plastics Oils for use in paints, detergents, and lubricants Plants are being produced with entirely new functions that enable them to do things such as: Detect and/or dispose of environmental contaminants like mercury, lead, and petroleum products
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

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Plants with input traits that are commercially available include:

Roundup Ready soybean, canola, and corn: resistant to treatment with Roundup herbicide that may result in more effective weed control with less tillage, and or decreased use of other, more harmful herbicides YieldGard corn and BollGard cotton: express an insecticidal protein that is not toxic to animals or humans which protects the plant from damage caused by the European corn borer, tobacco budworm, and bollworm Destiny III and Liberator III squash: resistant to some viruses that destroy squash

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

Plants may become available with output traits including:

High laurate canola and high oleic soybean having altered oil content to be used primarily in industrial oils and fluids rather than food High-starch potatoes that take up less oil when frying Longer shelf-life bananas, peppers, pineapples, strawberries, and tomatoes Soybeans with higher levels of isoflavones; compounds that may be beneficial in reducing some cancers and heart disease Plants that produce vaccines and pharmaceuticals for treatment of human diseases Corn with improved digestibility and more nutrients providing livestock with better feed
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html

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