In This Issue
August 1, 2008
NEWS
Global
FAO Calls for Increased Investment in Cassava Research
Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy
Africa
GM Tobacco Detects Presence of Nitrogen Dioxide
Uganda Constructs Modern Cassava Transformation Lab
Americas
US Senate Outlays $30 M for Plant Biotech Research
Meeting the U.S. Biofuel Goal with Less Land
Control of DNA Packaging May Lead to More Nutritious Rice
El Salvador Prepares National Biotechnology Policy
Safflower-Produced Insulin Nears Human Clinical Trials in US
Scientists Develop Assay to Identify Pathogenic Fungi in a Flash
Parasitic Plant 'Wiretaps' Host
Asia and the Pacific
Plant Phenomics Center Launched in Canberra
Scientists Release Kiwi Fruit DNA Sequences
Israeli Researchers Root Out New and Efficient Crop Plants
Bayer Submits License Application Regarding GM Cotton
New Zealand: Unauthorized GM Product in Rice Noodle
South Korea to Enforce New Food Safety Standards
Europe
Guidelines for Assessing Pesticide Effects on Birds and Mammals
Research
Complete Sequence of the Root-Knot Nematode Genome
Reducing Acrylamide Levels in Processed Potato
Scientists Identify Gene that Allow Plants to Survive Iron Starvation
ANNOUNCEMENTS | DOCUMENT REMINDERS
Biofuels Supplement ( July 25, 2008 Issue) [Read latest news <http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/biofuels/default.asp?Date=7/25/2008> ]
<< Previous Issue
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/online/default.asp?Date=7/25/2008> |
[ TextOnly <http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/online/textonly/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008>
| Archive <http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/archive/default.asp>
| Translations <http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/translations/default.asp>
| Subscribe <http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/subscribe/default.asp>
| RSS <http://www.isaaa.org/rss/cropbiotechupdate/default.asp> ]
News
Global
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2898> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2898> ]
FAO Calls for Increased Investment in Cassava Research
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called for more research into the tropical root crop cassava as a way to help poor countries threatened by spiraling food and oil prices. Cassava is a staple food for millions of poverty stricken people in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia where it provides as much as a third of daily calories. At a conference in Belgium, members of the FAO-facilitated Global Cassava Partnership for Genetic Improvement (GCP21) reviewed the current state of cassava production worldwide and future prospects.
At present, the average cassava yields are barely 20 percent of those obtained under optimum conditions. Despite growing demand and its production potential, the crop is grown mainly in areas that have little or no access to improved varieties, fertilizer and other production inputs, by small scale farmers often cut off from marketing channels and agro-processing industries.
Members of GCP21 agreed on a number of new projects to realize the crop's full potential in addressing the global food and energy crisis. The projects include establishment of a cassava chain delivery system to channel technical advances to poor farmers, improvement in soil fertility, enhancement of basic scientific knowledge of the crop, including genomics, and training for the next generation of cassava researchers in developing countries.
The media release is available at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000899/index.html For information on the GCP21, visit http://danforthcenter.org/gcp21/
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2911> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2911> ]
Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy
A broad group of companies and organizations has formed The Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy, designed to "promote their understanding that through innovation, agriculture can sustainably meet the growing global demand for food and renewable forms of energy." The founding members are Archer Daniels Midland Company, DuPont, John Deere, Monsanto, and the Renewable Fuels Association. The Alliance hopes to responsibly improve diets and reduce tremendous dependence on fossil fuels.
" With a growing demand for grain, it's critically important that policy leaders start thinking about how we can grow our way to a solution. through greater support for agricultural innovation, we can produce enough crops to supply both our food and energy needs worldwide", said Mark Kornblau, executive director of the Alliance.
For further information view
http://www.foodandenergy.org/pressreleases/072108_AAFE_Press_Release.pdf
Africa
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2923> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2923> ]
GM Tobacco Detects Presence of Nitrogen Dioxide
Landmines 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. The technology developed by Aresa activates anthocyanin in the tobacco plant's leaves if there is soil contamination from explosives such as land mines.
View http://ecoworldly.com/2008/07/29/genetically-engineered-tobacco-bio-sensor-to-detect-landmines/ for more information.
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2918> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2918> ]
Uganda Constructs Modern Cassava Transformation Lab
Construction of a modern cassava transformation laboratory has started at Uganda's Namulonge Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) with funding from the US Agency for International Development and administered by the Association of Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and the Danforth Plant Science Center at St. Louis, USA. The new lab will be used to develop two new cassava varieties named Ebwan Aterac and Aladu by Ugandan scientists led by Dr. Yona Baguma, an agricultural scientist and molecular biologist with NaCRRI. He estimates that research, development, trials and commercial release of the disease resistant varieties will take a minimum of five years. Cassava Mosaic Virus (CMV) and Brown Streak Virus (BSV) are the most important constraints to cassava production in the region.
Dr Charles Mugoya, coordinator of ASARECA's Agro-biodiversity and Biotechnology Programme, said improving cassava productivity is part of the long term strategies aimed at enhancing food security in Eastern and Central Africa region where tens of thousands of people are faced with starvation.
Other countries in the region that are participating in the cassava transformation programme are Kenya and Tanzania.
For more information contact Daniel Otunge (d.otunge@cgiar.org) of ISAAA AfriCenter.
Americas
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2914> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2914> ]
US Senate Outlays $30 M for Plant Biotech Research
The United States Senate Appropriations Committee has earmarked $30 M for plant biotech research and development under its proposed agriculture development programs. The amount will be allocated for the US Agency for International Development "to improve food security and income generation, particularly in Africa and Asia".
The details of the Fiscal Year 2009 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations legislation is available at http://appropriations.senate.gov/News/2008_07_21_FY_2009_State,_Foreign_
Operations_Report.pdf?CFID=4488692&CFTOKEN=23910981
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2908> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2908> ]
Meeting the U.S. Biofuel Goal with Less Land
Results of a University of Illinois study showed that using the giant perennial grass Miscanthus giganteus as a feedstock for ethanol production in the U.S. could significantly reduce the acreage dedicated to biofuels while meeting the country's biofuels production goals. Miscanthus was shown to outperform current biofuels sources. Using corn or switchgrass to produce enough ethanol to offset 20 percent of gasoline use would take 25 percent of current U.S. cropland out of food production. The researchers showed that getting the same amount of ethanol from the giant grass would require only 9.3 percent of current agricultural acreage.
Field trials showed that Miscanthus is tolerant of poor soil quality and capable of accumulating more carbon in the soil compared to annual crop such as corn or soybeans. In addition, the grass requires fewer chemical and mechanical inputs than corn. However, using Miscanthus in an agricultural setting has not been without its challenges. The grass must be propagated by planting underground stems because of its sterility. Stephen Long, main author of the study, pointed out that although research has led to improvements in productivity and growers are poised to begin using it as a biofuels crop on a large scale, Miscanthus is in its infancy as an agricultural product.
Read the full article at http://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/08/0730miscanthus.html The abstract of the paper published by Global Change Biology is available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120119109/abstract
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2896> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2896> ]
Control of DNA Packaging May Lead to More Nutritious Rice
A study conducted by researchers from the Mississippi State University and Ohio State University revealed that the chromatin, the packaged form of the DNA, plays an essential role in controlling rice endosperm sizes and grain quality. The findings may allow scientists to improve the nutritional value of rice. The endosperm portion of the grain is an important component in determining the nutrient content for most cereal crops as it provides growing plant nutrition, such as starch, oils and protein.
Inside the plant cell, the two meter long DNA is packaged as chromatin to fit the 20 micrometer (one millionth of a meter) nucleus. A piece of DNA wraps around a group of basic proteins called histones to form a structure similar to the coil of a telephone cord. Several proteins can adjust the tightness of the DNA-histone interaction. Genes positioned in loosely packaged chromatin regions are usually active since they are more accessible to transcription factors.
The scientists pinpointed the chromatin modification genes that control endosperm sizes and grain quality. They also identified 344 unique proteins associated with chromatin and found a large number of histone variants in the crop. The findings suggest that manipulating the chromatin-controlling genes may be an effective approach to improve rice yield and quality.
For more information, read http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/impact/2008/nri/07281_rice_nutrition.html
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2901> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2901> ]
El Salvador Prepares National Biotechnology Policy
According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report, El Salvador's Ministry of Environment is currently working on the regulatory framework for the safe use and commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). El Salvador does not produce genetically modified crops. Although there are no restrictions on imports of agricultural biotechnology products in the country, labeling of food products that contain GMOs is required under Article 128 of the Consumer Law.
Through a Global Environment Fund (GEF) project, the government of El Salvador has written a proposal for a regulatory framework that includes national policy for biotechnology, a national policy for biosafety, an administrative and regulatory system for imports of GMOs, a decision making support system, and a mechanism for social participation and consultation. Under the proposed framework, the Ministry of Environment (MARN) would be the institution in charge of enforcing the safe handling of GMOs in coordination with the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health on appropriate biosafety applications.
Download the USDA FAS GAIN Report at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200806/146294882.pdf
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2905> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2905> ]
Safflower-Produced Insulin Nears Human Clinical Trials in US
SemBioSys Genetics Inc. recently announced that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for safflower-produced recombinant human insulin to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An IND is necessary for a new drug's early preclinical development. "All of our studies to date confirm that our safflower-produced insulin is equivalent to pharmaceutical-grade human insulin. We met our internal schedule to submit the IND and we are on track to begin human clinical trials in the fourth quarter of 2008 as planned," said Andrew Baum, president and chief executive officer of SemBioSys.
The company also intends to submit a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to the appropriate European authorities later this quarter. Assuming approval of the CTA, SemBioSys plans to conduct a Phase I/II trial in the UK.
To read more, visit http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1607298075&view=36078-0&Start=0.
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2893> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2893> ]
Scientists Develop Assay to Identify Pathogenic Fungi in a Flash
Scientists from the United States Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed a method to rapidly detect the genetic fingerprints of fungal pathogens. The assay can detect ten Pythium and seven Rhizoctonia species, pathogens that cost wheat growers in the Pacific Northwest $50 to $70 million annually in yield losses. The ARS scientists are now exploring the assays' commercial potential and eventual use in gathering fungal data for a risk-management system.
The assay uses laboratory-designed DNA fragments called primers to detect specific sequences of fungal DNA in soil and plant samples. Polymerase chain reaction generates millions of copies of the DNA sequence. A fluorescent signal that is measured and displayed on a computer screen at each amplification cycle's end indicates how much of the pathogen is present in the original sample. The assay can yield results in one day. Before, it was necessary to culture the fungi in the laboratory and conduct greenhouse trials to observe disease symptoms, which would take weeks. In addition, the assay is more sensitive and specific compared to conventional methods.
For more information, read http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080728.htm
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2921> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2921> ]
Parasitic Plant 'Wiretaps' Host
A parasitic plant proves to be a clever pest: aside from sucking water and nutrients from its plant host, it also taps into the host's communications traffic. Professor Neelima Sinha and colleagues at the UC Davis Section of Plant Biology studied dodder vines growing on tomato plants in the lab. They found that RNA molecules from the host could be found in the dodder up to a foot (30 cm) from the point where the parasite had plumbed itself into the host.
Plants often use small RNA molecules as messengers between different parts of the plant. Picking up these RNA messengers could help the parasite synchronize its lifecycle with that of the host plant, Sinha said. Ultimately, the researchers hope to use host RNA to trigger a change in the parasite that kills it or makes it less damaging. The research could lead to new ways to combat parasites that attack crop plants.
Read the complete press release at http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=8724.
Asia and the Pacific
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2922> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2922> ]
Plant Phenomics Center Launched in Canberra
An Australian plant research center designed to help tackle major global challenges such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation and future food production was recently launched in Canberra. The High Resolution Plant Phenomics Center will house sophisticated growing environments, glasshouse automation technologies, and digital imaging technologies and sophisticated software to measure plant growth and development.
"Plant phenomics is a science that has the power to transform our lives. It can help us tackle the most pressing challenges of our time - including global food shortages, the demand for alternative fuels, and climate change", said Kim Carr, Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The Center is part of an initiative of the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) supported by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and South Australian governments, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO), The Australian National University and The University of Adelaide.
To read more visit http://www.csiro.au/news/PlantPhenomicCentre.html.
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2919> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2919> ]
Scientists Release Kiwi Fruit DNA Sequences
Researchers from New Zealand-based companies HortResearch and Genesis Research and Development Corporation Limited announced that they would complete the public release of the world's most extensive collection of kiwi fruit DNA sequences. The genetic data will allow fruit breeders develop new kiwi varieties with improved diseases resistance and increased health properties.
The release comprises over 130,000 kiwi fruit DNA sequences from active genes in the plant- referred to by scientists as expressed sequenced tags (ESTs). ESTs were identified for most genes in color pathways controlling chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis, fruit softening and ascorbic acid synthesis. HortResearch scientist William Laing said that the kiwi fruit DNA sequences were identified over an eight year period and will be used by the company's breeders to speed up development of new kiwi fruit varieties through Marker Assisted Selection (MAS).
For more information, read the media release at http://www.hortresearch.co.nz/index/news/508 or the paper published by BMC Genomics at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/9/351
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2912> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2912> ]
Israeli Researchers Root Out New and Efficient Crop Plants
Not all water given to a plant reaches the roots, amounting to an enormous waste of water and energy. Tel Aviv University researchers, however, are investigating a new solution: genetically modifying plants' root systems to improve their ability to find the water essential to their survival. The teams of Prof. Amram Eshel and Prof. Hillel Fromm will take advantage of a newly discovered gene that controls hydrotropism, a plant's ability to send its roots towards water.
Scientists in TAU's lab are observing plants that are grown on moist air in the University's lab, making it possible to investigate how the modified plant roots orient themselves towards water. The current research is being done on the experimental model plant Arabidopsis. "Our aim is to save water," explains Prof. Eshel. "We are increasing a plant's efficiency for water uptake. Plants that can sense water in a better fashion will be higher in economic value in the future." There can be significant water-saving consequences for farmers around the world.
The complete article is available at http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7489.
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2906> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2906> ]
Bayer Submits License Application Regarding GM Cotton
Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd has submitted a license application to Australia's Office of the Gene Regulator for an intentional release of cotton plants that have been genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide resistance. The release is proposed to take place at one site in New South Wales.
No plants from the GM cotton would be used for human food or animal feed or for the production of fabrics and/or other cotton products.
To read more, visit http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/dir087-3/$FILE/dir087ebnotific.pdf.
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2900> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2900> ]
New Zealand: Unauthorized GM Product in Rice Noodle
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) withdrew a brand of rice noodles from sale after it was tested positive for trace quantities (approximately 0.1 percent) of the unauthorized genetically modified (GM) rice variety, Bt63. Bt63 produces the fusion protein Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac which offers resistance to lepidopteran pests. The Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac proteins are present in some approved GM crops in New Zealand, but the combined form of these two proteins has not been assessed for safety. NZFSA said that it is unlikely that consumption of Bt63 rice at the trace levels identified in the country poses a public health risk.
NZFSA began testing rice products available in New Zealand earlier this year following an announcement by the European Commission (EC) and the UK Food Standards Agency (UKFSA) that they were working to address the presence of the Bt63 rice in products imported from China.
The media release is available at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2008/bt63-rice-080730.htm
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2910> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2910> ]
South Korea to Enforce New Food Safety Standards
The South Korean government announced that it will implement more comprehensive safety standards in monitoring food products available in the country. By the year 2012, ninety-five per cent of all foods should be subject to testing standards that are as rigorous as those of the European Union. The government has already earmarked 120 million won (US $ 110 thousand) to ease the transition to the new system.
President Lee Myung-bak, addressing the National Assembly, said that a "national health organization" will be established. The organization, composed of representatives from non-governmental sectors, will monitor food safety. In addition, an institute will be grounded specifically for the management of all food-relevant information, including such topics as genetic modification.
Read the complete article at http://www.coextra.eu/news/news1228.html
Europe
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2909> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2909> ]
Guidelines for Assessing Pesticide Effects on Birds and Mammals
The European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR) has released an opinion for assessing the impact of pesticides on birds and mammals.
The PPR Panel evaluated the impact of pesticides with a large range of scenarios including different crops and different types of pesticide uses (e.g. granules, seed treatment, sprays). In most cases, the assessment results in a toxicity-exposure-ratio (TER) as a measure of risk. In the case of acute risks to birds from sprayed pesticides, however, the PPR Panel offered an alternative approach based on the number of lethal doses applied per square meter (LD50/m²).
EFSA's Opinion Paper can be downloaded at http://www.efsa.eu.int/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902014630.htm
Research
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2902> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2902> ]
Complete Sequence of the Root-Knot Nematode Genome
An international group of researchers have deciphered the complete genome sequence of the southern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The root-knot nematode, a biotrophic parasite of many crops, including tomato, cotton and coffee, is responsible for global agricultural losses amounting to more than US$ 150 billion annually. The genome sequence will provide researchers insights into the adaptations required by nematodes to successfully parasitize and counter the defenses of immunocompetent plants.
The nematode genome was sequenced using whole-genome shotgun strategy. 19,212 protein-coding genes were identified, 69 percent of which have sequences almost identical to each other. In addition, the nematode has an unprecedented set of 61 plant cell wall-degrading, carbohydrate-active enzymes, hypothesized to have been derived through multiple horizontal gene transfers from bacterial sources. The scientists are further investigating theses genes as they are likely targets for novel intervention strategies.
Read the full article published by Nature Biotechnology at http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nbt.1482.html
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2903> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2903> ]
Reducing Acrylamide Levels in Processed Potato
Foods rich in the amino acid asparagine, such as wheat and potato, naturally produce acrylamide when exposed to high temperatures for example in frying, roasting or baking. Laboratory studies have shown that high doses of acrylamide cause cancer in animals. In humans, daily intake of 3.0 µg (one millionth of a gram) acrylamide is considered to be safe. This level of dietary intake, however, is exceeded in small subsets of the population, particularly in young children and adolescents.
In an attempt to limit the accumulation of acrylamide in processed potato, which contributes to approximately one-third of the average dietary intake of the compound, a group of researchers from Simplot Plant Sciences in the U.S. silenced the expression of two asparagine synthase genes in potato tubers. The genetically modified potato lines were found to contain up to 20-fold reduced levels of free asparagine. Heat processed products obtained from the transformed tubers were found to contain 95 percent less acrylamide compared to their non-GM counterparts. The authors said that given the important role of processed potato products in the Western diet, replacement of current varieties with the GM potatoes could reduce the average daily intake of acrylamide by almost one-third.
Download the open access paper published by Plant Biotechnology Journal at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120849002/PDFSTART
[Top]
[Send to a Friend
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/sendtofriend/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2907> ]
[Rate this Article
<http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ratethisarticle/default.asp?Date=8/1/2008&ID=2907> ]
Scientists Identify Gene that Allow Plants to Survive Iron Starvation
Researchers from Dartmouth College in the U.S. have identified a gene required for both efficient photosynthesis and for iron metabolism, processes necessary for producing a healthy plant and a nutritious food source. Mary Lou Guerinot and her colleagues provided molecular evidence that FRO7, a gene in the ferric reductase oxidase (FRO) family, is involved in chloroplast iron acquisition and is required for efficient photosynthesis. Iron serves as a cofactor in the photosynthetic electron transport chain and is essential for chlorophyll biosynthesis.
The scientists explains that one-third of the soil worldwide is iron deficient, so it is important to understand how plants acquire the metal, how they allocate it to different parts of the plant and within the cell, and how they survive under iron-limiting conditions. An understanding of iron transport and homeostasis in the chloroplast is critical not only to improve plant growth and crop yields but also to improve human nutrition.
The article published by PNAS is available at http://www.pnas.org/content/105/30/10619.full
Read http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2008/07/21.html for more information.
[Top]
Announcements
Second International Symposium on Papaya
The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is organizing the Second International Symposium on Papaya to be held at Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India on 9-12 December, 2008. The theme of the symposium 'Papayas for Nutritional Security' addresses the need for cultivating papaya from traditional small holdings to commercial orchards to alleviate the problem of malnutrition especially Vitamin A deficiency in many developing countries.
For further information, contact Dr.N.Kumar at kumarhort@yahoo.com or visit http://www.ishs-papaya2008.com/Home%20page.html
International Banana Symposium in China
ProMusa, in collaboration with the Guang Dong Academy for Agricultural Sciences, the International Society for Horticultural Science, and Bioversity's Banana and Plantain Regional Network for Asia and the Pacific (BAPNET), announce the International Banana Symposium: Global Perspectives on Asian Challenges to be held in Guang Dong, China, on September 14-18, 2009.
For more information go to the symposium website at
http://www.promusa.org/symposium_2009/home.html
World Potato Congress 2009
The 7th World Potato Congress will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand on 22 - 25 March 2009, and will be hosted by the Potato Product Group of Horticulture New Zealand. The theme of the Congress is "Nourishing Our Future" with the tagline "Potatoes: sustainable, nutritious, delicious." WPC 2009 will bring together representatives of the potato industry from around the world to share information, research and knowledge on all aspects of the potato industry.
For complete details and to register for the Congress and Partners Program, visit http://www.wpcnz.org.nz/
World Congress on Conservation Agriculture
Pusa, New Delhi, India will be the site of the 4th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture: Innovations for Improving Efficiency, Equity and Environment on February 4-7, 2009. The conference is being organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS).
For more information, contact P K Joshi (wccagri@gmail.com) or visit http://www.icar.org.in/wccagri/index.html
[Top]
Document Reminders
Facts and Trends on Agriculture Ecosystem
A report on "Agriculture Ecosystem: Facts and Trends" published by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) both Switzerland-based organizations, is available at: http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/7Qu0pPBaiUfK5x9k4AND/AgriculturalEcosystems.pdf.
The publication "tries to present well-documented facts and figures to better understand the challenges facing the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems". Topics include biodiversity and ecosystem services, climate, water, land, and future challenges.
Do not hesitate to tell other colleagues/contacts about this mail list. If they wish to join, they should send an e-mail message to knowledge.center@isaaa.org leaving the subject blank and entering the one-line text message as follows: SUBSCRIBE Crop Biotech Network
To stop receiving this newsletter, please send an e-mail message to knowledge.center@isaaa.org and write, "unsubscribe newsletter" in the subject box.
Please visit CropBiotech Net web pages (http://www.isaaa.org/kc) to view previous issues of this newsletter and see other available resources for download.
Copyright © 2008 ISAAA
Editorial Policy |
