Agricultural biotechnology

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Agricultural biotechnology, also known as agritech, is an area of

microorganisms.[1] Crop biotechnology is one aspect of agricultural biotechnology which has been greatly developed upon in recent times. Desired trait are exported from a particular species of Crop to an entirely different species. These transgene
crops possess desirable characteristics in terms of flavor, color of flowers, growth rate, size of harvested products and resistance to diseases and pests.

History

herbicide resistance. The first food product produced through biotechnology was sold in 1990, and by 2003, 7 million farmers were utilizing biotech crops. More than 85% of these farmers were located in developing countries.[2]

Crop modification techniques

Traditional breeding

Traditional

honeycrisp apple
exhibits a specific texture and flavor due to the crossbreeding of its parents. In traditional practices, pollen from one plant is placed on the female part of another, which leads to a hybrid that contains genetic information from both parent plants. Plant breeders select the plants with the traits they're looking to pass on and continue to breed those plants. Note that crossbreeding can only be utilized within the same or closely related species.

Mutagenesis

ruby red grapefruits
.

Polyploidy

Seedless watermelons are created in this manner; a 4-set chromosome watermelon is crossed with a 2-set chromosome watermelon to create a sterile (seedless) watermelon
with three sets of chromosomes.

Protoplast fusion

Protoplast fusion is the joining of cells or cell components to transfer traits between species. For example, the trait of male sterility is transferred from radishes to red cabbages by protoplast fusion. This male sterility helps plant breeders make hybrid crops.[4]

RNA interference

RNA interference (RNAIi) is the process in which a cell's RNA to protein mechanism is turned down or off in order to suppress genes. This method of genetic modification works by interfering with messenger RNA to stop the synthesis of proteins, effectively silencing a gene.

Transgenics

Transgenics involves the insertion of one piece of DNA into another organism's DNA in order to introduce new genes into the original organism. This addition of genes into an organism's genetic material creates a new variety with desired traits. The DNA must be prepared and packaged in a test tube and then inserted into the new organism. New genetic information can be inserted with gene guns/biolistics. An example of a gene gun transgenic is the rainbow papaya, which is modified with a gene that gives it resistance to the papaya ringspot virus.[5]

Genome editing

Genome editing is the use of an enzyme system to modify the DNA directly within the cell. Genome editing is used to develop herbicide resistant canola to help farmers control weeds.

Improved nutritional content

Agricultural biotechnology has been used to improve the nutritional content of a variety of crops in an effort to meet the needs of an increasing population. Genetic engineering can produce crops with a higher concentration of vitamins. For example,

micronutrient deficiencies in Uganda. By genetically modifying bananas to contain vitamin A and iron, Banana 21 has helped foster a solution to micronutrient deficiencies through the vessel of a staple food and major starch source in Africa. Additionally, crops can be engineered to reduce toxicity or to produce varieties with removed allergens
.

Genes and traits of interest for crops

Agronomic traits

Insect resistance

One highly sought after trait is

Bt corn and cotton are now commonplace, and cowpeas, sunflower, soybeans, tomatoes, tobacco, walnut, sugar cane, and rice
are all being studied in relation to Bt.

Herbicide tolerance

Weeds have proven to be an issue for farmers for thousands of years; they compete for soil nutrients, water, and sunlight and prove deadly to crops. Biotechnology has offered a solution in the form of herbicide tolerance. Chemical herbicides are sprayed directly on plants in order to kill weeds and therefore competition, and herbicide resistant crops have to the opportunity to flourish.

Disease resistance

Often, crops are afflicted by disease spread through insects (like aphids). Spreading disease among crop plants is incredibly difficult to control and was previously only managed by completely removing the affected crop. The field of agricultural biotechnology offers a solution through genetically engineering virus resistance. Developing GE disease-resistant crops now include cassava, maize, and sweet potato.

Temperature tolerance

Agricultural biotechnology can also provide a solution for plants in extreme temperature conditions. In order to maximize yield and prevent crop death, genes can be engineered that help to regulate cold and heat tolerance. For example, tobacco plants have been genetically modified to be more tolerant to hot and cold conditions, with genes originally found in Carica papaya.

nitrogen use efficiency
and salt tolerance.

Quality traits

Quality traits include increased nutritional or dietary value, improved food processing and storage, or the elimination of toxins and allergens in crop plants.

Common GMO crops

Currently, only a small number of

food waste, and bring out flavor. The production of Bt cotton has skyrocketed in India, with 10 million hectares planted for the first time in 2011, resulting in a 50% insecticide application reduction. In 2014, Indian and Chinese farmers planted more than 15 million hectares of Bt cotton.[9]

Safety testing and government regulations

Agricultural biotechnology regulation in the US falls under three main government agencies: The

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The USDA must approve the release of any new GMOs, EPA controls the regulation of insecticide, and the FDA evaluates the safety of a particular crop sent to market. On average, it takes nearly 13 years and $130 million of research and development for a genetically modified organism to come to market. The regulation process takes up to 8 years in the United States.[10] The safety of GMOs has become a topic of debate worldwide, but scientific articles are being conducted to test the safety of consuming GMOs in addition to the FDA's work. In one such article, it was concluded that Bt rice did not adversely affect digestion and did not induce horizontal gene transfer.[11]

References

  1. ^ "What is Agricultural Biotechnology?" (PDF). Cornell University. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Agricultural Biotechnology" (PDF). cornell.edu. PBS, ABSP II, US Agency for International Development. 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Infographic: Crop Modification Techniques - Biology Fortified, Inc". Biology Fortified, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  4. S2CID 2755373
    .
  5. ^ "The Gene Gun That Saved Hawaii". American Council on Science and Health. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  6. ^ "About Banana21". www.banana21.org. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  7. PMID 27764197
    .
  8. ^ "MVD". mvgs.iaea.org. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  9. ^ "International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications - ISAAA.org". www.isaaa.org. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  10. ^ "What does it take to bring a new GM product to market? #GMOFAQ". GMO FAQ. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  11. PMID 27706188
    .
  • Momoh James Osamede (2016). Crop Biotechnology in Nigeria. Procedure for Postgraduate workshop, UNIBEN, Nigeria 27 April 2016. BENIN CITY, Nigeria
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