Plant and forest Biotechnology

why and how?.....

By: Muhammad Ali Lakhan

BIOTECHNOLOGY – WHAT IS IT?

All the techniques that can be used to genetically

improve and/or exploit living systems for the benefit of
humanity

Biology Chemistry

Biotechnology

Engineering
 BIOTECHNOLOGY – IS IT SOMETHING NEW?

In prehistoric times some

microorganisms were
already used for processes
like fermentation:
- Wine
- Beer
- Cheese
Current biotechnology
Beer

Based on a better knowledge of

the organism and better tools
 •PLANTBIOTECHNOLOGY
a process to produce a genetically modified plant by
removing genetic information from an
organism, manipulating it in the laboratory and then
transferring it into a plant to change certain of
its characteristics. Now use a molecular approach to
manipulation
•molecular markers mapping
•gene cloning, sequencing
•plant transformation
•genetic manipulation - transfer, silencing,
up-regulation
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY

Plants are crucial for life on earth

- They supply 90% of human calorie intake and 80% of the
protein intake (the remainder coming from animal products)

• Population rise Solutions

• Increase of diseases
• Less land for agriculture • Plants with higher yield
• Malnutrition /productivity
• Resistance to diseases
• More nutrients
Current
problems
 TOOLS OF PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY

To face the current challenges, plant biotechnology uses several tools

- In vitro culture

- Genomic analysis

- Genome manipulation
IN VITRO CULTURE

Plant cells have totipotency

(develop a new organism )

Potential of a cell to differentiate into an

unlimited number of specialized cell
types

In vitro culture uses controlled conditions

(light and temperature, culture media, in
containment)

Biotechnological production of plant

material
 RESEARCH DELIVERS BIOTECH SOLUTIONS

Virus resistant
papaya
Drought- tolerant
maize

Gluten-free
wheat

Bananas enriched
Golden rice in vitamin A
(enriched in b
carotene)
 PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY- BENEFITING OUR WORLD

Progress rural communities

Biotech crops such as maize and soybean increase

farm incomes and food security, while
alleviating poverty

Preservation of natural habitats

By helping farmers to grow more on less

land, natural habitats are better preserved

Reduce damage to the environment

Herbicide-tolerant crops like glyphosate-resistant corn, cotton and

soybean reduce the need for tillage, helping to keep carbon in the soil
 WHAT ARE THE APPLICATIONS?
•Improvement of varieties according to relevant agronomic features:
• Productivity (resistance to biotic stress: pests, viruses, pathogens,
abiotic stress tolerance to drought, salinity ... herbicide tolerance.
Plant-soil interaction, nutrient absorption, metabolism
improvement, etc.)
• Nutrition improvement: vitamin enrichment, flavor enhancement,
nutraceutical foods.
• Post-harvest Physiology (fruit ripening delay)
• Food processing, IV range
• Ornamental plants improvement: structure, size, color, smell, fruit
absence...
•Phytoremediation: contaminants removal
•Biofuels: bioenergy crops (1st, 2nd, 3rd generation)
•Biofactories: biopolymers, therapeutic proteins, biodegradable plastics,
etc.
•Natural diversity exploitation and biodiversity protection
FOREST BIOTECHNOLOGY
Forests are important because they
provide:
•Climate regulation –temperature,
moisture, wind, etc.
•Local habitats
•Nutrient recycling – N, P, S, C, O,
water...
•Consumable goods for the human
culture
•A source of carbon through
photosynthesis
What are the modern demands on forests?
One-half of the earth is covered by forests
•50% of the wood used globally goes to heating or cooking
•Forests are being cleared rapidly to make land
•available for farming or livestock
 Forest Management in the Past
One-half of the earth is covered by forests
•50% of the wood used globally goes to heating or cooking
•Forests are being cleared rapidly to make land
•available for farming or livestock
Artificial selection was applied to trees more than 6000 years ago to make orchards
from trees with the best physical traits.
•Reforestation began as early as 2300 years ago in Egypt in an effort to reduce
erosion and off-set firewood demands
How have forest management
practices changed?

Selective breeding practices

where applied to reforestation
in the early 1900’s using:
•Inbreeding
•Outcrossing
•Hybridization
•Introduced non-natives
•Backcrossing
•Cross pollination
Vegetative cloning
What is the outcome of these practices?
Hybridization has been used to make “plus” tress that exhibit genetically superior traits
“Plus” trees are then used as the parents to provide orchards of highly selected trees
from a limited genetic stock using grafting, inbreeding, back crossing or vegetative cloning
The drawback is less genetic variability leaves trees vulnerable to disease
Ecosystems become more homogenous, similar to a monoculture with less species
diversity on the higher trophic levels Single species forests create a problem of
nutrient depleted soils
 What is the future of biotechnology in forest management?

Trees may be genetically engineered for:

•Herbicide resistance
•Drought resistance
•Fast growth of firewood or erosion control species
•Environmental tolerance to poor soils, a low pH or soils contaminated with toxins
(such as salt)
 What are the risks and benefits of using biotechnology on forests?

Risks include:
• Lower resistance to pest species and disease
• Depletion of soil nutrients
• Lack of biodiversity
• It may lead to pesticide resistance in insects
• Cross-fertilization may occur between GE species and non GE
species
• Modified species may invasively outcompete native species
Benefits include:
• Resistance to herbicide application
• Land area is freed up for agricultural use or for use as
biological preserve
• Trees can be grown on marginal land or degraded land areas
• Faster growing trees can be produced for higher rates of
consumption
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!
From crops that enable farmers to maximize productivity and ensure
food security, to foods that enhance consumer diets and reduce
health risks…
… the potential of plant biotechnology is limitless!