Genetic engineering: An additional tool for plant improvement

Advances in gene transfer technologies have enabled the production of both monocot and dicot transgenic plants. With the biolistic method, genes can be transferred in recalcitrant crop plants and forest trees, independent of their genotype. Inexpensive methods for both stable and transient gene transfers - ultrasonication, direct DNA insertion during imbibition using somatic embryos, and silicon carbide fibres - have been developed. The frequency of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation rates of cloned genes can be enhanced in plant cells. The analysis of molecular markers (RFLPs, RAPDs, DNA fingerprints) can accomplish the characterization, gene mapping and identification and certification and patent protection of cultivars. With PCR, selective amplification of a specific DNA segment from a small amount of an organism’s total DNA can be used toidentify transgenic cultivars. The expression of a target gene can be inhibited with antisense RNA. So far, a limited number of genes have been identified and cloned with genetic engineering. With specific gene transfers, many goals such as biological control of insect pests and fungi, male sterility, virus resistance, improving seed protein, and production of transgenic plants as “bioreactors” can be accomplished. T-DNA mutagenesis may lead to learning more about the genetic control of plant development and morphogenesis, and isolation of useful mutants. Before genetic engineering becomes a reliable tool of plant breeding, more attention is needed to explore: (a) new plant genetic resources in order toidentify and clone new genes, (b) fate of selective and scorable marker genes, and (c) field evaluation of transgenes in transgenic plants

Investing in women as drivers of agriculture

Agriculture for Development, the 2008 World Development Report, showed that agriculture is a critical source of livelihoods for women in many developing countries, and a key pathway out of poverty.1 It also portrayed women in many rural societies as especially constrained by a lack of access to inputs, productive resources, and services. They also often lack incentives to invest given the greater vulnerability and proportionately greater exposure to risk that result from having fewer assets, and the very real likelihood that once their niche in the value chain becomes commercially profitable it will be expropriated by men. The Gender and Agriculture Sourcebook uses empirical evidence to inform policy formulation and program design.2 It provides decision makers and practitioners with practical guidance, not only on how to avoid the pitfalls of gender neutral planning, but on how to capitalize on the extraordinary productive and poverty reducing potential of the woman farmer

Suomalainen maanviljelijä ja kasvien geenisiirto

vokMyynti MTT Tietopalvelut 31600 Jokioine

The effect of cold and heat pretreatments on anther culture response of Avena sativa and A. sterilis

vokEripainoksia saatavissa tekijöiltä. Yksikön huom.: KJ

Plant regeneration via anther culture of A. sativa L.

vokKopioita saatavissa tekijöiltä. Yksikön huom.: KJ

Uuden geneettisen muuntelun tuottaminen perunan pakkasenkestävyyden tutkimiseksi

vokMyynti MTT Tietopalvelut 31600 Jokioine

The effect of heat pretreatment on anther culture response of cultivated and wild oat

vokEripainoksia saatavissa tekijöilt

Regeneration of anther-derived plants of Avena sterilis

vokEripainoksia saatavissa tekijöiltä. Yksikön huom.: KJ

Variation in volatile compounds from tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) related to genetic and morphological differences of genotypes

Air-dried flower heads of 20 Finnish tansy genotypes were extracted with petroleum ether and analyzed using GC¯MS. A total of 55 volatile compounds were detected, and 53 were identified. Of the tansy genotypes studied, 15 were well defined and five were mixed chemotypes. Complete linkage analysis differentiated the populations into six clusters. The most frequently found monoterpene was camphor with or without several satellite compounds such as camphene, 1,8-cineole, pinocamphone, chrysanthenyl acetate, bornyl acetate and isobornyl acetate. In 13 genotypes, camphor concentration exceeded 18.5% and in seven genotypes, camphor was less than 7.2%. Other chemotypes rich in trans thujone, artemisia ketone, 1,8-cineole, or davadone-D were also identified. Davadone-D and a mixed chemotype, containing tricyclene and myrcene, were identified from a Finnish tansy for the first time. Geographically, most chemotypes containing camphor originated from Central Finland, whereas chemotypes without camphor such as artemisia ketone, davadone D and myrcene¯tricyclene originated from South or Southwest Finland. Morphologically, the 20 tansy chemotypes based on the groups formed from complete linkage cluster analysis, were compared. The group containing the highest concentration of camphor chemotypes had the tallest shoots. The groups consisting from chemotypes containing davadone-D or artemisia ketone, which originated from Southwest Finland, produced the highest number of flower heads, had the tallest corymb, and were last to flower. Also, the group consisting from chemotypes with a high concentration of camphor and originated from South Finland started to flower late. The correlation between the genetic distance matrices based on RAPD patterns reported previously (Keskitalo et al., 1998. Theo. Appl. Genet. 96, 1141¯1150.) and the chemical distance matrices of the present study of the same tansy genotypes was highly significant (0.41, P<0.0001).VokKV

Annual Progress Report 1997, Finland: Alternative oil-seed crop Camelina sativa: Commission of the European Communities Directorate General for Agriculture DG VI FIL3, Contract no AIR 3 CT94 2178

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