PLANT BREEDING NEWS
EDITION 178
7 May 2007
An Electronic Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding
Sponsored by FAO and Cornell University
Clair H. Hershey, Editor
chh23@cornell.edu
Archived issues available at: FAO Plant Breeding
Newsletter
CONTENTS
1. NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESEARCH NOTES
1.01 Beachell and Borlaug,
two giants of the American Society of Agronomy's first century
1.02 K. B. Saxena: One man's quest for the high-yield pigeon pea
1.03 Monty Jones: Rice-breeder
joins world leaders
1.04 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
researchers develop new high-yielding, drought resistant rice variety
1.05 Nepali farmers gain
more from improved local rice varieties
1.06 New research agreement to boost rice
production, avoid food shortages in Indonesia
1.07 New hybrid rice in India
1.08 New oil palm planting
material for Malaysia
1.09 China has potential to become world's largest market for
GM crops
1.10 University of the Philippines
Los Baños ready to market biotechnologies and improved varieties
1.11 Experts in agriculture, health
to discuss biofortification for Africa
1.12 Malawi: small
farmers benefit from cassava project
1.13 ICAR identifies five new improved rice varieties
1.14 ICRISAT hybrid pigeonpea
to boost production of pulse crop
1.15 Agricultural Biotechnology Network
in Africa (ABNETA)
1.16 The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building
in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
1.17 NERICA contributes to record rice
harvest in Africa
1.18 EMBRAPA develops new soybean varieties
1.19 Farmers get more from CIMMYT durum wheat
1.20 High yield potential, shuttle breeding, genetic diversity,
and a new international wheat improvement strategy
1.21 Delivering health benefits through new cereal grains
- CSIRO is developing healthier high resistant starch wheats
1.22 Assessing and
designing strategies to strengthen regional plant breeding and associated biotechnology
capacity in the Caucasus
1.23 How hi-tech nuclear science is feeding
the poor
1.24 DuPont to help meet growing demand
for plant breeders - Partnership with Purdue University develops scientists to address global demand for grain
1.25 Looking for greener
pastures in Australia: A$6 million boost for pasture genetics
1.26 US Department of Agriculture hosts
specialty crop research wor kshop
1.27 Structuring European plant genomics
research
1.28 Unveiling rice's
DNA under Intellectual Property Rights regime
1.29 West Africa to boost
food crops with biotechnology
1.30 Mexican farmers sign GM maize treaty
with Monsanto
1.31 Gates Foundation funds efforts
to rescue 95 percent of the world's endangered critical crop biodiversity
1.32 Dinosaurs and crop diversity: how great is the loss?
1.33 Drilling down into
diversity: DNA fingerprinting for crop plants
1.34 Australian sunflowers are newest
addition to major U.S. seed bank
1.35 Classification of Peruvian highland maize races using plant
traits
1.36 Wheat midge resistance
in upcoming varieties in Canada
1.37 Why some aphids can't stand the heat
1.38 Research on grey
mould offers possible breakthrough in tomato cultivation
1.39 Towards identification of photoperiod
genes in cotton
1.40 In vitro breeding of Brassica for metal phytoextraction
1.41 Cassava varieties bred with resistance to Cassava Brown Streak
Disease
1.42 Amino acids profile in cassava, its interspecific hybrid
and progenies
1.43 Prompt progress made against a new threat to watermelon
1.44 Barley gene find
could mean more beer per bushel
1.45 Scientists unlock secret of what
makes plants flower
1.46 Scientists turn genetic keys to
unlock bioenergy in switchgrass
1.47 Fungus responsible
for Africa's deadly maize identified
1.48 Gene controlling rice grain size
and weight identified
1.49 Cornell researchers zero in on genes that turn a plant's
ability to self-pollinate on and off -- a potential boon for hybrids
1.50 Intragenic vectors
for gene transfer without foreign DNA
1.51 Single dominant gene controls chlorophyll
content in rice
1.52 Update 3-2007 of FAO-BiotechNews
2. PUBLICATIONS
2.01 Biplot analysis
and plant breeding
2.02 1000 plant diseases mapped by
CABI
2.03 Intellectual property management in health and agricultural
innovation
2.04 Sahelian Droughts: A Partial Agronomic Solution
3. WEB RESOURCES
3.01 New lupin website is a one stop shop: www.lupins.org
3.02 Underutilized species – revised website
4 GRANTS AVAILABLE
4.01 SACC Canola and Hesperaloe/Desert Crop RFA Issued
5 POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.01 Research Manager, Farming
Systems Research Group, UC Davis
5.02 Plant and Animal
Systems, Plant Science, Program Specialist
6 MEETINGS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
7 EDITOR'S NOTES
=========================
1. NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESEARCH NOTES
1.01 Beachell and Borlaug, two
giants of the American Society of Agronomy's first century
In Celebration of 100 Years of ASA -- Centennial Papers
Murray H. Milford (mmilford@suddenlink.net ) and E. C.
A. Runge
Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843-2474
ABSTRACT
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the American Society of
Agronomy, it is appropriate that recognition be given to two men: Henry
M. Beachell, internationally recognized and most long-lived 73-yr member,
until his death in December 2006; and to Norman E. Borlaug, who without
doubt, is the most widely acclaimed of the Society's members. Both
men had scientific accomplishments that were crucial to the Green Revolutions
associated with the production of rice (Oryza sativa L.) (Beachell)
and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Borlaug). Their professional
careers have much in common and their interactions with each other
had significant impact on the careers of both. The purposes of this
paper are to gain insight into their thinking and to highlight the
accomplishments that make them the most well-known agronomists of the
Society's first 100 yr.
Published in Agron J 99:595-598 (2007)
DOI: 10.2134/agronj2007.0004
© 2007 American Society of Agronomy
Contributed by Rodomiro Ortiz
R.ORTIZ@CGIAR.ORG
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1.02 K. B. Saxena: One man's quest for
the high-yield pigeon pea
Forget wheat or rice. For plant breeder K. B. Saxena, the top crop has always
been pigeon pea the main source of protein for over a billion people in
the developing world and a vital cash crop for multitudes of smallholders in Africa,
the Caribbean and India.
Saxena helped create nearly a dozen improved varieties of this hardy plant over
three decades, but his holy grail was a high-yield hybrid for the poor farmer.
Two years ago the Indian researcher and his team at ICRISAT (the International
Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) finally achieved their goal.
The length of Saxena's quest is mostly due to peculiarities of legumes that meant
creating the sterile plants needed for breeding was frustratingly difficult. The
researcher's work was also hampered by ICRISAT's budgetary problems in the late
1990s.
Yet Saxena has now achieved hybrids that yield up to 48 per cent more than popular
varieties. Meanwhile, fellow plant breeder M. S. Swaminathan is ensuring the seed
reaches subsistence farmers through a programme that teaches their wives to produce
the hybrids from ICRISAT seeds.
Link
to article in Science
Reference: Science, 316, 196 (2007)
Source: SciDev.net
16 April 2007
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1.03 Monty Jones: Rice-breeder joins world leaders
A Sierra Leone scientist has been voted among the world's most influential
people by the US Time magazine
Monty Jones helped develop a new form of rice, known as Nerica - short for
New Rice for Africa - which increases yields by up to 50%.
Nerica is seen as one reason why Africa's harvest of rice - a staple food in much
of the continent - has been rising in recent years.
Mr Jones is one of just five Africans on this year's list of 100 names.
Nerica combines the hardiness of traditional African strains with the productivity
of Asian varieties.
Rice is the staple food across much of West Africa but much of it is imported.
On Thursday, it was announced that African rice production had grown for the sixth
year running. Africa Rice Center director Papa Abdoulaye Seck says Nerica is a
major reason.
Some of the biggest increases in rice production were in Mali and Burkina Faso
- among the first countries to introduce Nerica, he says.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6625931.stm
Contributed by Rodomiro Ortiz (CIMMYT)
R.ORTIZ@CGIAR.ORG
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1.04 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University researchers develop
new high-yielding, drought resistant rice variety
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Researchers from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
(TNAU) have developed a new variety of rice that is high-yielding, drought resistant
and suitable for rain-fed areas. This new variety can yield up to 3.7 tons per
hectare.
Conventional and molecular breeding methods following a novel participatory approach
were both used to come up with this variety, said Dr. T S Raveendran, Director
of Center for Plant Breeding and Genetics, TNAU.
Dr. Ravendeen added that a ‘super hybrid rice’ needs to be developed that is resistant
to the ‘rice tungro virus disease’ and new rice cultivars that are suitable for
making ‘idly’, an Indian bread.
Link to full
article on Chennai Online.
Other news from
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Source: Chennai Online via SeedQuest.com
4 May 2007
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1.05 Nepali farmers gain more from improved local rice varieties
Ten years after the introduction of a rice breeding project in Begnas, Nepal,
Nepali farmers are growing their own rice and successfully improving local varieties
by cross-breeding. The global project, coordinated by the International
Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI, now known as Bioversity International), aims
to help farmers find ways to conserve local varieties of crops in the face of
a global trend of relying increasingly on “modern” varieties bred to survive in
diverse growing conditions.
Nepali farmers were able to develop a new variety of Pokhareli Jethobudho rice,
a local variety prized for its soft texture and unique aroma and taste. However,
it has problems with “lodging” (falling over) and is susceptible to neck blast
disease. By selective breeding, six lines of Jethobudho were chosen for their
outstanding qualities. These lines will now become the basis of all future Jethobudho
grown in the area.
http://www.idrc.ca/reports/ev-110870-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html.
Source: CropBiotech Update via SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.06 New research agreement to boost rice
production, avoid food shortages in Indonesia
The world's largest Muslim nation, Indonesia has been struggling for several
years to increase its rice production
Jakarta, Indonesia – Efforts by Indonesia to avoid food shortages by increasing
its rice production have received an important boost with the signing of a new
agreement to help the nation's millions of poor rice farmers with new technologies.
Senior officials and scientists of the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research
and Development (IAARD), and other agencies of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture,
signed the three-year agreement with the Philippines-based International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI) on March 23 in Jakarta.
The world's largest Muslim nation, Indonesia has been struggling for several years
to increase its rice production. Shortages could trigger price rises, possibly
sparking protests and unrest.
"It will be very challenging to lift Indonesian rice production to the levels
requested by the government," IRRI's deputy director general for research, Ren
Wang, said in Jakarta. The Indonesian government has indicated it wants to see
an additional 2 million tons of rice produced in 2007 and 5 percent growth in
national rice production each year after that.
"With world rice production growing at less than 2 percent annually, it's increasingly
difficult for countries such as Indonesia to boost production beyond 2 to 3 percent,"
Dr. Wang explained.
But with international rice prices at a ten-year high – after doubling in the
past two years – and world rice reserves slumping to a 30-year low, there is enormous
pressure on rice-importing countries such as Indonesia to try to achieve self-sufficiency.
Dr. Wang said that such gains had been achieved before, noting that Indonesia
achieved self-sufficiency in rice in 1984.
Between 1955 and 1965, Indonesia had the lowest rate of growth in rice yields
(0.2 percent per year) and rice production (1.2 percent) of any major rice producer
in Asia. However, between 1965 and 1985, it had the highest rates of growth (4.1
percent and 5.6 percent, respectively), with a dramatic spurt of 7.2 percent annual
growth of output between 1977 and 1984.[1]
Rice production in Indonesia grew by nearly two and a half times between 1968
and 1989, from less than 12 to over 29 million metric tons. Most of this expansion
occurred during the second of these two decades, when average rice yields increased
from 2.8 to 4.2 tons per hectare.
The area planted to rice expanded by only about 1 million hectares during each
decade, so most of the output gain was attributed to intensive increases in productivity
rather than to extensive expansion of rice land. "These gains show very clearly
what can be achieved with the right rice policies in place to encourage the growth
of rice output," Dr. Wang said.
"Because of the importance of Indonesia as the world's fifth largest nation and
its vital strategic role in Asia, it's crucial that its rice sector continue to
develop and move ahead," he emphasized. "We all need to work together to channel
the latest technologies to Indonesian rice farmers to help them reach the goals
set by the government – if we fail, the price could be very high indeed."
The new agreement between Indonesia and IRRI focuses on three key areas: support
for the Indonesian government's Rice Production Increase Program, collaborative
research, and human resource development.
Support efforts will include the development of improved rice varieties with high
yield potential, grain quality, and resistance to pests; the development of a
national strategy and framework for hybrid rice; and the development of improved
rice varieties that can tolerate submergence, drought, and low-temperature damage
in high-elevation areas.
Collaborative research will include the strengthening of research capacity for
the development and safe use of transgenic rice in Indonesia, improving grain
quality and the nutritional value of rice using functional genomics and molecular
breeding, and special emphasis on drought, disease resistance, and poor soils.
Capacity building will focus on postgraduate degree training, on-the-job or intern
training, scientist exchange, short courses, and in-country training.
Contact: Duncan Macintosh
d.macintosh@cgiar.org
International Rice Research Institute
Source: EurekAlert.org
3 April 2007
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1.07 New hybrid rice in India
Researchers from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) have developed
a new variety of rice that is high-yielding, drought resistant and suitable for
rain-fed areas. This new variety can yield up to 3.7 tons per hectare.
Conventional and molecular breeding methods following a novel participatory approach
were both used to come up with this variety, said Dr. T S Raveendran, Director
of Center for Plant Breeding and Genetics, TNAU. Dr. Ravendeen added that
a 'super hybrid rice' needs to be developed that is resistant to the 'rice tungro
virus disease' and new rice cultivars that are suitable for making 'idly', an
Indian bread.
The full article is available at: http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B142DC6D7-5ED0-408B-A1F4-27AF9B1197FA%7D&CATEGORYNAME=TAMNA
.
From CropBiotech Update 4 May 2007:
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.08 New oil palm planting material for Malaysia
Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd, one of the main oil palm players in Malaysia made a
breakthrough by producing new planting material which is a clone between Dura
and Pisifera. The launch of the bi-clonal Dura and Pisifera (DxP) was officiated
by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. DxP was developed using top
performing duras and pisiferas in the form of clones compared to normal DxP that
came from combination of many parental palms. The production of bi-clonal DxP
is less capital intensive than producing pure clones. This gives local planters
access to superior planting materials that produce higher yield at lower cost.
Guthrie is also looking into advancing the knowledge in oil palm, as well as improving
the competitive edge of Malaysia as a major palm oil producer. The company will
explore diversification in palm oil uses, such as producing palm puree from palm
fruits. This research will be undertaken by the Universiti Teknologi Mara.
For more information write to Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director of the
Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) at maha@bic.org.my.
From CropBiotech Update 4 May 2007:
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.09 China has potential to become world's largest market for GM crops
Dublin, Ireland
One of the key sectors in China is agriculture. China has been doing extensive
research and development on its own GM crops in order to build up a competitive
place in this market as it develops throughout the world.
In the recent past, GM cotton was approved in China and is doing quite well in
the market, although still a new market. Recently the Chinese government held
a meeting that could prove to be the most important GM crop related meeting to
happen in the world: a meeting to approve commercial production of GM rice, a
very important crop in China.
Assuming GM rice is approved as expected, China has potential to become the largest
market for GM crops in the world in the not so distant future.
This report is based on over 70 primary interviews, and significant secondary
research, all conducted in China.
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c53420
Source: SeedQuest.com
5 April 2007
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1.10 University of the Philippines Los Baños ready to
market biotechnologies and improved varieties
The Philippines
State-run University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
recently said that it has more than 70 products and technologies ready for marketing.
Around 40 biotechnologies and bio-products, six improved varieties of cassava,
two improved varieties of corn, 15 improved varieties of fruits, two lines of
hibiscus, two agricultural kits, and two cheese-making technologies are already
"mature and developed," said UPLB Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension Enrico
Supangco in a statement.
These products and technologies are intended to improve productivity and efficiency
in agriculture and enhance the quality of life. They consist of products of biotechnology;
crop and varietal improvement; crop production, dairy technologies; farm mechanization;
feeds and animal nutrition; germplasm conservation and tissue culture technologies;
irrigation and drainage, pest management technologies; plant breeding protocols;
postharvest technologies; social development technologies; and waste product utilization
and by-product processing.
Mr. Supangco said the different technologies and products offer key users, particularly
farmers, diverse benefits in terms of cost of production, time, energy, and others.
Other technologies provide models and frameworks for community development.
Licensing is the most common strategy employed by the university in commercializing
technologies.
"At present, seven licensed agreements have been committed by UPLB, six are being
processed and one is operational," Mr. Supangco said.
The different college units and research institutions serve as the marketplace
of these technologies and products, where people can find what suit their needs.
Sales and royalty fees generated from these products and technologies are used
to pay the staff, purchase vital supplies, and pay overhead costs, Mr. Supangco
said.
More news from UPLB
Source: SEAMEO SEARCA via SeedQuest.com
12 April 2007
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1.11 Experts in agriculture, health to discuss biofortification
for Africa
Biofortification -- breeding crops with higher levels of vitamins and minerals
is the key topic in a regional workshop this week in Mombasa, attended by scientists,
policymakers, and other leaders in African agriculture and health. During the
workshop participants will discuss the latest research on biofortification and
identify strategies to develop biofortified crops in Africa and integrate biofortification
into national agricultural and health policy agendas. The workshop is co-hosted
by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and HarvestPlus, an international
research program that seeks to reduce micronutrient malnutrition by harnessing
agricultural technology to breed staple crops for better nutrition.
Much of Africa's rural poor can only afford a diet based mostly on staple crops,
which are generally low in micronutrients, particularly iron, zinc, and Vitamin
A. As a result, more than a third of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa suffers
the debilitating effects of micronutrient malnutrition, or diets deficient in
essential vitamins and minerals. Biofortification expands the role of agriculture
by using it as a tool for public health.
"Addressing micronutrient malnutrition requires a paradigm shift," said Howarth
Bouis, director of HarvestPlus. "Agricultural research needs to move beyond increasing
productivity to improving food quality as well. In this way, biofortification
can play a critical role in improving health."
Readers can access the press release at http://www.ifpri.org/pressrel/2006/20060502.asp.
From CropBiotech Update 4 May 2007:
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.12 Malawi: small farmers benefit from cassava project
A project to produce high-yielding cassava for processing into industrial
starch is raising the income of small scale farmers of the Masinda Club Factory,
while also benefiting farmers from neighboring villages from their sales of raw
cassava roots for processing. Farmers were trained, among other things, in cassava
production, processing, factory management, and environmental sanitation.
Established in 2003 with an initial capacity to produce four tons of industrial
starch monthly, the factory now produces 20 tons, and it has facilitated an increase
of about 38.42% in cassava production after two years of operations. Following
the example of the Masinda Club Factory, several companies are establishing similar
cassava treatment factories in the country.
#####
The initiative, a public- public partnership, is lead by the International Institute
of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the Southern African Root
Crops Research Network (IITA/SARRNET), with funding from USAID.
Read more at: http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_feature_details.aspx?articleid=986&zoneid=342
Source: Crop Biotech Update
12 April 2007
Contributed by Elcio Guimaraes
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1.13 ICAR identifies five new improved rice varieties
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has identified five new
improved varieties and hybrid of rice for release in different agro-climatic regions
of the country. It includes four new improved varieties and one hybrid of rice.
Pusa 1460 (IET 18990) a new variant of Pusa Basmati 1 will yield 37 q/ha is developed
by pyramiding bacterial leaf blight (BLB) resistance genes (xa13 & Xa21) in
the background of Pusa Basmati 1 through marker assisted backcross breeding. Similarly,
RP BIO 226 (IET 19046) which is improved variety and provides an alternative for
popular fine-grained variety Samba Mahsuri. Other includes two rice varieties
MTU 1075 (IET 18482) and UPR 2870 (IET 17544) and mid-early duration hybrid rice
HRI-152 is developed to best suit in cropping pattern viz. rice-wheat, thus increasing
productivity of both the crops.
For detail: http://www.icar.org.in/pr/20042007.htm
Contact: b.choudhary@isaaa.org
From CropBiotech Update 4 May 2007:
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.14 ICRISAT hybrid pigeonpea to boost
production of pulse crop
The low productivity of pigeonpea remains a major concern of many countries
that consume this pulse crop (legume). A new hybrid pigeonpea technology, developed
by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
and partners offers a hope of starting a pulse crop revolution in India and other
developing countries by substantially increasing pigeonpea production.
The new hybrid technology is based on the cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) system.
Male-sterile plants are those that do not have functional male sex organs. For
hybrid production to be successful, it requires a female plant in which no viable
pollen grains are borne. A simple way to establish a female line for hybrid seed
production is to identify or create a line that is unable to produce viable pollen.
This male-sterile line is therefore unable to self-pollinate, and seed formation
is dependent upon pollen from the other male fertile line. So far the progress
in the mission of enhancing the productivity of pigeonpea has been very encouraging
and the team at ICRISAT is confident that the reality of commercial hybrids is
just around the corner.
The news article is available at http://www.icrisat.org/Media/2007/media6.htm.
From CropBiotech Update 4 April 2007
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.15 Agricultural Biotechnology Network in Africa (ABNETA)
ABNETA has re-developed its website (www.abneta.org)
to provide a better service to its members and stakeholders. We invite you to
register with ABNETA and take advantage of this new opportunity.
Other than an improved News Page,
a list of helpful How To's,
and Links
to useful sources of information, a Database has been built
to facilitate networking among research personnel, breeders, NGO’s, donors,
and other stakeholders around Africa. You can store, display and search information
about the interests, technical expertise and ongoing projects. This will help
you to find researchers, breeders or other stakeholders working in a particular
field, with a particular technique on a particular crop in different countries.
It would then be possible to approach those experts to share ideas, request advice
or to develop a collaborative project. The database also provides information
on useful protocols, websites and will shortly include laboratory capacities.
We therefore invite you to take advantage of this new opportunity and register
yourself or your organisation as a member of ABNETA in our database. We hope that
you will find that through ABNETA you can both contribute to and gain a lot from
the biotechnology and breeding community in Africa.
Registration is simple and free: go to http://www.abneta.org/site/pages/reg/index.php, click on
the member type most relevant to you, and enter your information as requested.
This may take about 5 - 10 minutes (depending on member type). If you find it
takes longer you can always submit your profile and edit it at a convenient time.
If you do register, we would also appreciate it if you let us know by emailing
us writing ‘Plant Breeding News’ in the box at the end of the registration process
so that we can track how our members came to join ABNETA.
ABNETA is run by the African Biotechnology Stakeholders’ Forum (ABSF)
in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
(FAO), with funding from FAO, USDA and the Wain Fund. For more information, please
contact Dr David Priest on david.priest@fao.org.
Submitted by David Priest
david.priest@fao.org
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1.16 The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building
in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
is an initiative by a consortium of 12 universities in east and southern Africa
to develop and strengthen human resource capacity for inter-disciplinary problem-solving.
It achieves its goal through grants programmes to support research and to address
rural (agricultural) development issues, especially community and smallholder
farmer needs.
RUFORUM’s mission is to foster innovativeness and adaptive capacity of universities
engaged in agricultural and rural development to develop and sustain high quality
in training, innovative and impact oriented research, and collaboration.
http://www.ruforum.org/
Contributed by Elcio Guimaraes
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1.17 NERICA contributes to record rice harvest in Africa
According to the latest figures from the FAO Rice Market Monitor, the paddy
production in Africa has gone up for the 6th consecutive year, reaching 21.6 million
tonnes in 2006 6% above 2005 and NERICA has been identified as a major
factor in this growth.
Attributing the record harvest to favorable weather conditions and “the positive
effects of the adoption of NERICA rice varieties,” the FAO Monitor adds that substantial
production increases were reported in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali,
Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.
It goes on to state that “gains were spectacular in Burkina Faso, where production
rose by 102% to 189,175 tonnes. Production also rose extensively in Mali, which
harvested over 1 million tonnes in 2006, up from 946, 000 tonnes in 2005, as excellent
growing conditions boosted yields.”
“We do not think that it is just a coincidence that Burkina Faso and Mali have
had these spectacular successes. They were the first countries to evaluate and
release the lowland NERICA varieties developed recently by the Africa Rice Center
(WARDA) in close association with national programs,” said Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck,
WARDA Director General.
Describing the recent surge in demand for NERICA seed in Nigeria, Dr Seck said
that WARDA has been informed that the country was able to reduce its rice imports
in 2005 by over 800,000 tonnes, thanks to the strong measures taken by the Nigerian
Government to increase domestic rice production and decrease rice imports. Nigeria
is the largest importer of rice in the world.
West Africa is not the only region where NERICA is performing spectacularly. The
varieties have leapfrogged from Guinea to Uganda in Eastern Africa, where they
are blazing a new trail of success.
WARDA has just been informed by the Uganda Agricultural Productivity Enhancement
Program (APEP), supported by the USAID that more than 16,000 refugee families
from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi residing in Uganda are
set to grow NERICA. This initiative is being supported by APEP-USAID and the Ugandan
government to address the food security problem and raise incomes from their produce.
In addition, 750 Ugandan farmers, who were displaced by the civil conflicts, have
been trained in NERICA production as part of a training-of-trainers program with
support from APEP-USAID. Also in Uganda, Japan and FAO have launched a US$ 1 million
project to promote NERICA for which WARDA is providing the technical support.
“NERICA is also being increasingly used in agricultural rehabilitation efforts
in post-conflict countries, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic
of Congo and Rwanda,” said Dr Seck, explaining that the African Rice Initiative
(ARI), managed by WARDA, is frequently approached for NERICA seeds to assist in
such efforts.
“We are, therefore, exploring with all our partners a sustainable strategy to
address the ever-increasing demand for NERICA seeds across sub-Saharan Africa,”
Dr Seck added.
3 May 2007
Contributed by Rodomiro Ortiz (CIMMYT)
R.ORTIZ@CGIAR.ORG
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1.18 EMBRAPA develops new soybean varieties
EMBRAPA, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation presented this week
in the event "Dia de campo" two new transgenic soybean varieties, Gisele RR and
Juliana RR, and two new conventional varieties, Graciosa and Princesa. The new
lines were developed by the research team Convênio Cerrados, and will be available
in the market next year. Graciosa has very high tolerance to attack by nematodes.
José Américo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Association of Seed and Seedling
Producers (Abrasem) highlioghted the importance of the use of certified seeds
to ensure high production yields, and to reduce phytosanitary and biosafety risks.
More information in
http://www.embrapa.br/noticias/banco_de_noticias/2007/abril/foldernoticia.2007-04-09.3971798158/noticia.2007-04-11.3923153115/mostra_noticia
From CropBiotech Update 12 April 2007:
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.19 Farmers get more from CIMMYT durum
wheat
Here is a piece of good news for durum wheat farmers around the world. The
International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has been breeding new
durum lines that are disease-resistant and of high quality. The CIMMYT team realized
that farmers in developing countries need high quality and marketable grain for
them to improve their livelihoods.
Breeding itself is a cyclical process of combination and selection until the breeder
is satisfied that all required characteristics have been incorporated into the
new wheat plants. The first goal was to develop leaf rust resistance in durum
wheat. After the CIMMYT team accomplished this feat, they focused on enhancing
the performance of the wheat varieties under drought stress and incorporating
resistance to other diseases. Next is making the best possible wheat varieties
from all other perspectives - including the yield, color and quality of the gluten
in durum wheat grains. The best durum wheat lines in the CIMMYT breeding station
will then be sent to national programs for evaluation.
Read more on durum wheat at http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/2007/mar/yieldBack.htm.
From CropBiotech Update 4 April 2007
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.20 High yield potential, shuttle breeding, genetic diversity, and
a new international wheat improvement strategy
Euphytica
DOI 10.1007/s10681-007-9375-9
Rodomiro Ortiz (1), Richard Trethowan(1), Guillermo Ortiz Ferrara(2), Masa Iwanaga(1),
John H. Dodds(1), Jonathan H. Crouch(1), Jose Crossa(1) and Hans-Joachim Braun
(3)
(1)Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Apdo. Postal
6-641, 06600 Mexico, DF, Mexico
(2)CIMMYT, Katmandu, Nepal
(3)CIMMYT, Ankara, Turkey
Published online: 16 February 2007
Abstract
The main elements of the international wheat improvement program of the Centro
Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT), also known as the International
Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, have been shuttle breeding at two contrasting
locations in Mexico, wide adaptation, durable rust and Septoria resistances, international
multisite testing, and the appropriate use of genetic variation to enhance yield
gains of subsequently produced lines. Such an approach yielded successes known
collectively as the Green Revolution. However, at the beginning of the 21st century,
this “cultivar assembly line” approach needs fine tuning to address crop needs
under increasingly adopted resource conserving practices, as well as those related
to nutritional requirements of the end-users. International wheat improvement
will therefore focus on the targeting of traits in respective mega-environments,
and the use of participatory methods, especially in marginal environments. The
main features of this wheat improvement strategy include the introduction of new
and novel sources of genetic variation through wild species, landraces, and, potentially,
the use of transgenes for intractable traits. This variation will be combined
using international shuttle breeding, and increased breeding efficiency will be
achieved through marker-aided methods, more targeted use of crop physiology, plant
genetics, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. Likewise, CIMMYT will increase its
focus on the needs of end-users by emphasizing regional efforts in participatory
research and client-oriented plant breeding.
Contributed by Rodomiro Ortiz (CIMMYT)
R.ORTIZ@CGIAR.ORG
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1.21 Delivering health benefits through new cereal grains
- CSIRO is developing healthier high resistant starch wheats
Australia
New cereal grains with high levels of resistant starch could improve bowel health
and prevent large bowel disease, according to research presented in America today
by CSIRO scientist Dr David Topping.
Resistant starch is the fraction of starch that escapes digestion in the small
intestine and is ultimately digested in the large bowel.
Why is that important? Dr Topping, a Senior Scientist with CSIRO Food Futures
and Preventative Health National Research Flagships, says many westernised populations
have low fibre intakes, which not only affect ‘regularity’ but also can heighten
risk for several serious non-infectious large bowel diseases.
Dr Topping says resistant starch intakes appear to be low in most affluent industrialised
countries. This is a matter of concern and increasing its consumption by modifying
the resistant starch content in consumer foods is an important strategy to improve
public health.
In his presentation to the Conference on Gastrointestinal Function in Chicago
today, Dr Topping will explain how resistant starch contributes to total dietary
fibre and its importance in promoting large bowel health.
He will also elaborate on the new high resistant starch, or amylose, cereals being
developed by the Food Futures Flagship and its partners with the potential to
provide benefits in the areas of bowel health, diabetes and obesity.
“Cereals with high amylose have the potential to be important components of foods
with a low glycaemic index, and with favourable attributes that promote bowel
health and potentially reduce the risk of colorectal cancer,” Dr Topping says.
“The Food Futures Flagship is developing new wheat varieties to meet the community’s
emerging health needs,” says the Flagship’s Director, Dr Bruce Lee. “These high-RS
wheats produce nutritionally significant levels of RS and can be incorporated
into breads, cereals and other foods.”
The Flagship’s research in this area is an example of the successful collaboration
of industry partners together with multi-disciplinary scientific expertise drawn
from CSIRO Human Nutrition, CSIRO Plant Industry and Food Science Australia –
a joint venture between CSIRO and the Victorian Government.
Source: SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.22 Assessing and designing strategies
to strengthen regional plant breeding and associated biotechnology capacity in
the Caucasus: a workshop report
The report on the workshop held in Tbilisi, Georgia on February 21-22, 2007
is now available online.
Participants of the regional workshop represented the three Caucasus countries
namely Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Among the issues discussed, capacity building on plant breeding was ranked as
top priority.
The scope of capacity building goes from short-term training on specific breeding
techniques to improve the educational level of the scientists. Access to information,
mechanisms to exchange national and regional information, and facilities to promote
the first two came in second.
These will strengthen the countries capacity to use plant genetic resources. Other
priority issues were the lack of seed production and distribution system at the
national levels; long-term support and planning of breeding programs; raising
awareness regarding the importance of plant genetic resources conservation and
use; and strengthening linkages between universities and research institutes.
Read the complete report on the workshop, “Assessing and Designing Strategies
to Strengthen Regional Plant Breeding and Associated Biotechnology Capacity in
the Caucasus” at http://apps3.fao.org/wiews/docs/Workshop%20Draft%20Report%2004%20Regional%20230207.pdf
.
To read more: http://www.fao.org/biotech/news_list.asp?thexpand=1&cat=131.
Source: CropBiotech Update via SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.23 How hi-tech nuclear science is feeding the poor
Rome, Italy
The hi-tech and often baffling field of nuclear technology may seem a world away
from the poorest developing world farmers and families struggling to make a dollar
a day.
Yet nuclear methods applied to agriculture are enabling millions of these farmers
to grow more crops and rear healthier livestock. Since most of the world's 854
million hungry people live in rural areas where agriculture is the main livelihood,
such technology can have a direct impact on poverty and hunger.
In addition, despite public concern over nuclear technology, such methods have
passed rigorous safety checks – in fact they increase the safety of food while
benefiting the environment.
Since 1964, FAO and the International Atomic
Energy Agency have harnessed such technology to help promote food security, through
the Vienna-based Joint FAO/IAEA Programme.
“Nuclear technology defies the senses; people cannot touch, smell or feel the
material, and this often evokes a fear of such methods,” says Gabriele Voigt,
Director of the Agency’s Laboratories at Seibersdorf, outside Vienna, a nerve-centre
of research and training.
“The irony is that such technology can make food safer and benefit the environment,
while ensuring the hungriest are fed. We’re opening a magic door and the positive
impacts are clear.”
Creating better crops
For example, scientists use a method called irradiation to create crop varieties
that are more disease-resistant and grow better in poor soils, a massive benefit
to countries across drought-prone Africa, where the poorest farmers try to survive
on the most marginal lands.
Food also can be made safer through irradiation, which destroys bacteria such
as E.coli and salmonella in foods, while leaving no radioactive traces. The safety
and effectiveness of this method has been declared by the Codex Alimentarius Commission,
an international standards body administered by FAO and the World Health Organization,
which comprises government-designated experts.
Irradiation as a post-harvest treatment for horticultural products also benefits
the environment – it provides a safer alternative to methyl bromide, which the
large majority of countries have agreed to phase out by 2010 due to its harmful
impact on the ozone layer.
Nuclear techniques can also be used to detect excessive pesticide or veterinary
drug residues in food and monitor implementation of good agricultural and veterinary
practices.
There are numerous other areas where nuclear technology helps the environment.
For example, one technique suppresses, or in some situations even eradicates,
insect pests by the systematic release of sterilized males of the species – a
type of birth control. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides that can
harm other organisms and soils. Another example involves a nuclear technique that
measures water storage and tracks water and nutrients in soil, reducing wastage
of these valuable commodities.
Two agencies better than one
Qu Liang, Director of the Joint Programme, says: “This is one of the best
examples of effective cooperation between two UN agencies, with a direct combination
of agricultural expertise and nuclear science.
“In its simplest terms, FAO can provide practical information from the field,
for example reporting the effects of soil erosion on crops and ultimately the
local people, and the IAEA can apply the scientific expertise on how we might
address it.”
The Joint FAO/IAEA Programme works with member countries in researching and introducing
new crop varieties, pest treatments or food-testing methods among other things.
It also trains scientists from developing countries each year at its lab at Seibersdorf,
near Vienna, who then return to their countries to put appropriate nuclear methods
into practice.
Mr Liang adds: “We investigate, give advice, guidance and training to international
scientists, and help coordinate early efforts to implement work. But it is for
countries to take up these projects and maintain them well into the future.
“We can generate a lot of interest and political will by showing the potential
economic benefits, which helps persuade governments to invest in it.”
Source: SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.24 DuPont to help meet growing demand for plant breeders
- Partnership with Purdue University develops scientists to address
global demand for grain
Des Moines, Iowa
DuPont today announced a $150,000 pledge to Purdue University to help graduate students with
an interest in plant breeding and genetics research.
"The potential for solutions from crop genetics research to meet global demands
for food, feed, fuel and materials continues to grow," said William S. Niebur,
vice president, DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development. "This presents
a tremendous opportunity for highly trained, well-educated plant breeders and
scientists to be on the cutting edge of significant research."
Beginning this year, DuPont will provide two, $25,000 fellowships to support graduate
students in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue. The fellowships, which will
be administered by DuPont subsidiary Pioneer
Hi-Bred International, are renewable each year through 2009. Purdue also will
provide matching funds for a total of $300,000 over three years.
"The world has come to recognize the incredible potential for plant genetics to
help solve global challenges," said Niebur. "We need to make sure we have the
best and brightest working to develop these solutions."
Earlier this year, DuPont announced the expansion of its research capacity and
addition of more than 400 positions, primarily focused on seed and biotechnology
research, including plant breeding.
Research and educational programs in Purdue's Department of Agronomy center on
four broad areas of emphasis, including genetic improvement of economic crops
and crop systems, and plant nutrition.
"Educating successive generations of plant breeders and geneticists depends on
our ability to continue to provide excellent scientific and educational programs,"
said Craig Beyrouty, Agronomy Department Head at Purdue. "This support from DuPont
will extend and complement our capacity to provide highly educated and trained
plant breeders for the future."
Source: SeedQuest.com
11 April 2007
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1.25 Looking for greener pastures in Australia: A$6
million boost for pasture genetics
Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Australian researchers are helping to change the pasture breeding industry’s entire
approach to forage crop improvement.
The research, which focuses on the discovery of genetic markers in perennial ryegrass
and white clover, will receive a A$6 million boost, bringing the total investment
to A$11 million.
The Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative
Research Centre’s CEO Dr Glenn Tong says the project brings pasture breeding
in line with many of our major food crops such as wheat.
“We have been applying our knowledge of genetics to human food crops for many
years now, but in pastures it has proven more difficult,” he says.
“Today I am pleased to say that our researchers are starting to turn this situation
around. We now have a good genetic understanding of quality and disease resistance
– both traits of major importance to industry.”
“Based on this success, we have decided to expand the research to look at other
important traits such as heat tolerance, improved digestibility and energy content.”
The project, which is supported by Dairy Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia
and the Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation, is good news for the $24 billion dairy,
lamb and beef industries.
By producing forages for better animal nutrition the CRC hopes that large-scale
improvements of dairy and meat production will be possible.
These improvements will also assist the production of high quality and healthy
foods, leading to nutritional and health benefits for consumers.
In the past, forage breeding programs relied on visual and chemical characteristics
of individual plants to determine whether they were suitable for breeding.
The introduction of more efficient genetic maker-based breeding has been slow
because, like animals, ryegrass and clover must breed with another individual;
a process known as ‘outcrossing’.
Each time the plant cross-pollinates the genes get jumbled, making it difficult
for breeders to keep track of which genes are in which plant.
Now, with the assistance of gene technology, researchers can scan the genome for
natural variation between genes, and locate genetic markers that indicate the
presence of key characteristics.
The process is an extremely efficient and powerful means of plant selection.
Dr Tong says a thorough knowledge of the ryegrass genome has now been achieved,
and white clover genome research is also advancing rapidly.
“We already have a proof of concept trial underway and we hope to see these gene
marker tools being used to produce new varieties within the next four years.”
The research is being conducted at the CRC’s Victorian node at the Victorian Department
of Primary Industries facilities in Bundoora and Hamilton.
The Molecular Plant Breeding CRC is a Cooperative Research Centre established
under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program.
Source: SeedQuest.com
3 May 2007
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1.26 US Department of Agriculture hosts specialty crop
research workshop
Washington, DC
USDA Under Secretaries Gale Buchanan and Bruce
Knight addressed academic, industry and federal specialty crop stakeholders at
a specialty crops research workshop hosted by USDA's Cooperative State Research,
Education and Extension Service (CSREES) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
"U.S. specialty crop producers and processors face challenges from foreign competition,
environmental regulations, consumer concerns about health and product quality,
and escalating production costs," Buchanan said. "As highlighted by the meetings
this week, advanced solutions to mechanization and harvesting issues are critical.
These are all challenges agricultural research can help solve."
The workshop focused on identifying engineering science and technology industry
research needs and developing a research agenda to meet those needs. Automation,
robotics, precision agriculture, sensors and other advanced technologies are needed
to help producers and the specialty crop industry become more efficient, productive
and sustainable.
In response to these challenges, the Bush administration is recommending in the
2007 Farm Bill the establishment of a Specialty Crop Research Initiative, supported
by $100 million in annual mandatory funding to provide science-based tools for
the specialty crop industry. The Specialty Crop Research Initiative will address:
-conducting fundamental research in plant breeding, genetics and genomics to improve
crop characteristics such as product appearance, environmental responses and tolerances,
nutrient management and pest and disease management, as well as safety, quality,
yield, taste and shelf life;
-optimizing production by developing more technologically efficient and effective
application of water, nutrients and pesticides to reduce energy use and improve
production efficiency;
-developing new innovations and technology to enhance mechanization, thus reducing
reliance on labor; and
-improving production efficiency, productivity and profitability over the long
term.
The farm bill proposal also calls for increasing assistance for specialty crop
growers through an array of changes that will enhance their ability to compete
in the marketplace. These initiatives include expanding mandatory funding for
the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program and the Market Access
Program. TASC assists U.S. food and agricultural organizations by funding projects
that address sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten
the export of U.S. specialty crops. The Market Access Program assists in the creation,
expansion and maintenance of foreign markets for U.S. agricultural products.
"Clearly agriculture faces challenges in 2007 and in the years ahead," Knight
said. "But the measures put forth in this proposal will help us meet those challenges.
It establishes parameters and policies that will enable American agriculture and
individual farmers and ranchers to grow and prosper."
CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and
well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs
in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. For more
information, visit http://www.csrees.usda.gov .
ARS is the principal scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Visit http://www.ars.usda.gov for more information.
Source: SeedQuest.com
26 April 2007
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1.27 Structuring European plant genomics research
Brussels, Belgium
Europe has a long tradition of innovation in food production, leading to significant
breakthroughs in yield increase and quality improvement in European crops. The
expected growth of the human population and the increase of the average level
of welfare in the coming decades will impose an increasing demand for food, feed
and energy. At the same time, there is a growing awareness of the potential impacts
on the environment and the need to develop sustainable production systems for
water, fertiliser, herbicide and pesticide use.
Collaborative research efforts and joint investments in large-scale technologies
will create the critical mass that Europe needs in order to sustain its competitiveness
in this area. This will facilitate a stepping up from national to multilateral
coordination, thereby reducing redundancy and maximising the returns on investments
in plant sciences.
To address these ambitions, the ERA-NET
Plant Genomics (ERA-PG) was launched in 2004 with coordination funding of
€2.2 million for 4 years from the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme. It was one of
the first networks to receive funding under the ERA-NET scheme which seeks to
strengthen the European Research Area (ERA).
ERA-PG is coordinated by NGI/NWO from the Netherlands, drawing its original partners
from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain,
and the UK. Since then, the network has been enlarged to encompass Bulgaria, Portugal,
Sweden, Switzerland and Israel.
ERA-PG started with a large information gathering exercise which mapped out the
landscape of research activities and the economic impact of plant genomics. Researchers
and science policy-makers were brought together to build common ground for joint
strategic and to perform a study leading to the development of common framework
mechanisms and best practices. In February 2006, ERA-PG launched its first joint
call for research with a budget of over €30 million, receiving more than 100 pre-proposals.
This was one of the largest ERA-NET coordinated research programmes.
Source: EPSO News
1 via SeedQuest.com
May 3, 2007
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1.28 Unveiling rice's DNA under Intellectual Property Rights regime
College, Laguna, The Philippines
There is a brand new manual to guide rice researchers in their work. This manual
not only embodies the nearly polished complete DNA sequence of the rice genome,
which carries the instructions or blueprint for developing a rice plant. The rapid
progress made in the Human Genome Sequencing Project (HGP) in the United States
in 1998 inspired Japan to initiate a similar project by sequencing the variety,
Nippon bare, a Japonica or temperate type of rice. Under Japan’s leadership, Brazil,
China, Taiwan, France, India, Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United
States participated in the project called International Rice Genome Sequencing
Project (IRGSP). IRGSP implemented the rice genome sequencing in 2004.China,
in another public sector effort, tackled the genome of one parent of the super
hybrid rice, an Indica or tropical type, just like what is commonly grown in the
Philippines.
Into the fray
The study of the rice genome reveals new information that can also impact
on maize, wheat, and other cereals. The potential economic and business windfall
from the rice genome sequencing project immediately drew giant seed companies
into the fray. For example, Monsanto and Syngenta, two of the world’s largest
agbiotech companies, both sequenced Nippon bare. Monsanto quickly shared their
draft sequence with the public, while Syngenta has applied for patents for its
sequence data.
Describing genome sequence
The manual describes the genome sequence that bears all the information needed
by the rice plant to complete its life cycle. That is why the rice genome sequence
can greatly help scientists in determining the genes that are important for adaptation,
good grain quality, high yield, and other desirable characteristics. Why certain
rice varieties are better than others is due to the differences in their genes.
Genes are like words or group of letters with meanings. They are groups of DNA
bases that produce certain proteins or enzymes, which are the building blocks
and tools for assembling, maintaining and eventually breaking down the rice plant.
The draft genome sequences have already yielded 37,000 predicted genes, majority
of which give strong clues on their specific roles, if not directly attributed
to certain traits. For instance, clusters of resistance genes are found in chromosomes
11and 12. These resistance genes now serve as good candidate genes or entry points
in investigating the defense mechanisms against microbial pathogens and insect
pests.
The distinct rice types sequenced would greatly facilitate the development of
DNA markers for traits with no candidate genes. DNA markers are sites in the genome
where two varieties differ. Because of the wide divergence between the Indica
and Japonica rice types, their DNA sequences differ in many points in the genome.
Hence, it will be easier for researchers to develop DNA markers based on this
variation, and use them in locating the genes of traits of interest in the genome.
Before the genome sequence was assembled, locating a gene had an accuracy of several
mega bases. But now, it is at the kilo base level. It is analogous to finding
a house given only the provincial address versus knowing the exact barangay. The
rice genome sequence, if written as a book, would take up the equivalent of two
sets of encyclopedias with 30,000 pages each, and two years and four months to
read aloud the entire sequence of the rice genome without stopping.
Functional genetics and IPR
We are now at the functional genomics stage in which scientists are trying to
understand the function of the predicted genes in plant growth, development, defense,
and demise. At the moment, the contention in the rice genome sequencing is Intellectual
Property Rights (IPRs) and its impact on publicly funded research. IPRs grant
holders all the legal rights to the property they created, prevent others from
taking advantage of their ingenuity, encourage their continuing innovativeness
and creativity, and assure the world of a flow of useful, informative, and intellectual
works for development. Syngenta, the so-called “genome giant,” has applied for
IPRs for vital rice gene sequences. Specifically, its 323-page application,WO03000904A2/3,
claims monopoly control of DNA that regulates flowering development, flower formation,
whole plant architecture, and flower timing in rice in up to 115 countries.Some
groups fear that if Syngenta is granted this monopoly rights, the gene sequences
may no longer be freely available to the international development community.
It may also result in undue restrictions and license charges, as well as constraints
upon further research. Efforts by Syngenta to monopolize control over rice, or
make Oryza sativa as Oryza syngenta, may hamper the drive towards food security
and eradicating hunger, critics say.
PhilRice unfazed
“PhilRice should not be fazed by these developments,” said Atty.Ronilo A.
Beronio, deputy executive director and head of PhiRice’s Intellectual Property
Management Office. “The sequencing of the rice genome and patenting it by private
corporations should even facilitate rice breeding”. He said that the aim of IPR
is not to withhold information from the public. Even if private multinationals
have patents over several rice gene sequences, the protection is only granted
in exchange for full disclosure of the invention, which will then be added to
the publicly available literature. “Navigating the patent waters’ is even a lot
easier now with the existence of patent databases in the Internet. If scientists
know the patented sequence, he can build around the patent, improve on it, or
create new inventions without reinventing the wheel,” he added.
Atty. Beronio likewise said that although public R&D institutions may be confronted
with a complex web of ownership and freedom-to-operate issues in the conduct of
further R&D, this information makes researchers aware in advance of IPR issues
pertaining to the technologies they are using. Not a stumbling block At the earliest
opportunity, too, transparent and mutually favorable technology transfer arrangements
can be made. This will preclude a future situation where a researcher scores a
breakthrough, only to find out that he/she has no freedom to operate because of
failure to address ownership issues on the technology components used. Thus, he
said, researchers should not find IPRs as stumbling blocks to R&D. Instead,
they should be a non-issue for institutions which have the capacity to understand
IPR.
Balanced exploitation of new information
Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, PhilRice’s executive director, admitted that public
sector R&D in the Philippines is passing through a challenging phase with
advances in genomics under the current IPR regime. He said capacity-building in
the institutional level would ensure a thorough understanding of the implications
of IPRs on biotechnology and genomic research. “We in public sector institutions
should act immediately, redefine our roles, and upgrade our expertise with new
norms in R&D due to IPR”, Dr. Sebastian said. He further emphasized that crucial
to achieving this objective is the presence of manpower, facility, and institutional
policy frameworks among public sector institutions. This will ensure that science
is done, and a balanced
By Gabriel O. Romero and Jane G. Payumo
PhilRice S&T Magazine Vol. 20 No. 2
April-June 2007 Issue
Source: Philippine Rice Research Institute
via SeedQuest.com
24 April 2007
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1.29 West Africa to boost food crops
with biotechnology
Banana production could benefit from biotechnology in West Africa, say scientists
Wagdy Sawahel
The 15 members of the Economic Community of West African States have agreed to
use biotechnology to increase food production in the region.
Ministers of agriculture, environment, science and technology met to discuss the
issues surrounding biotechnology in agriculture at a meeting held last week (28–30
March) in Accra, Ghana.
They adopted a regional action plan for biotechnology development for 2006–2010,
which stresses the use of public-private partnerships to increase investment in
biotechnology, and the need to put safety measures in place at national and regional
levels.
The plan calls for a network of biotechnology experts to be established, and the
promotion of networking between centres of excellence in biotechnology and the
West and Central African Biosciences facility planned by the New Partnership for
African Development.
The ministers also agreed to set up an independent fund for assessing the socio-economic
impacts of using genetically modified (GM) organisms.
A regional policy for managing intellectual property rights to help with the acquisition,
development and distribution of biotechnology knowledge and new technologies will
also be developed.
But the meeting drew criticism from non-governmental organisations, scientists,
farmers and consumer groups who met at a parallel meeting to criticise the 'biotech
industry interference' in the process, and the lack of provision for GM-free zones.
However scientists contacted by SciDev.Net welcomed the plan.
Baboucarr Manneh, a Gambian researcher at the biotechnology unit of the Africa
Rice Center in Benin, said it has the potential to improve agricultural productivity
in West Africa.
He pointed to a number of biotechnology applications needed in West African countries,
such as the use of antibodies and biopesticides against crop, animal and human
diseases.
Manneh indicated the necessity of producing disease-free plants such as bananas,
cassava and fruit trees, and plants resistant to environmental stresses.
He also highlighted the importance of improving the nutritional qualities of existing
crop varieties and animal breeds.
To address public fears about biotechnology, the ministers agreed to establish
a network of national information and communication units responsible for raising
public awareness of biotechnology.
The Economic Community of West African States includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape
Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Source: SciDev.net
4 April 2007
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1.30 Mexican farmers sign GM maize treaty with Monsanto
[MEXICO CITY] Mexican farmers have signed an agreement with biotechnology
giant Monsanto to buy and plant genetically modified (GM) maize.
According to the agreement signed earlier this month (18 April) by Mexico's National
Confederation of Corn Growers (CNPAMM) affiliated with the umbrella agricultural
association National Campesino Confederation Monsanto will provide Mexican producers
with GM seeds, as well as initiate activities to protect native maize, including
setting up a maize germplasm bank.
Many environmental and indigenous groups oppose the introduction of GM plants,
fearing that it may contaminate native varieties of maize in the country.
Maize originated in Mexico and is home to 3,500 native varieties. It is the main
food crop in Mexico, its production employing almost 12 million people.
The Mexican parliament's chamber of deputies has not yet approved regulations
for the experimental sowing of GM plants as part of Mexico's biosecurity laws.
Francisco Lopez, Mexico's vice-minister for agriculture, said the regulations
will be published in the coming weeks, and tests on GM maize will begin in the
northern state of Sonora in August.
Carlos Salazar, president of CNPAMM, estimates that more than 90 per cent of small
and medium growers will use GM seeds to improve productivity.
Jesus Madrazo, president of Monsanto Mexico, said the commercialisation of GM
maize will begin in 2010, once the evaluation phases required by the biosecurity
laws have been completed.
Arturo Barba
Source: SciDev.net
30 April 2007
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1.31 Gates Foundation funds efforts to rescue 95 percent
of the world's endangered critical crop biodiversity
Historic effort to secure biodiversity of 21 most important crops includes
many "orphan crops", critical to poor but often neglected by modern plant breeding
Rome, Italy
Recognizing that the fight against hunger cannot be won without securing fast-disappearing
crop biodiversity, the Global Crop Diversity Trust and its partner
the United Nations Foundation announced today a joint initiative to safeguard
21 of the world’s most critical food crops through securing their seeds. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
is funding the initiative with a US$37.5 million grant, the largest crop biodiversity
preservation grant ever made, which includes US$7.5 million in matching funds
from the government of Norway. Among the crops covered are many "orphan crops"
– crops particularly important to the poor but largely neglected by modern plant
breeding, despite the need for high-yielding, nutritious varieties.
"This initiative will rescue the most globally important developing-country collections
of the world’s 21 most important food crops," said Cary Fowler, Director of the
Trust. "It will secure at-risk collections in poor countries and document their
astonishing diversity, making it available to meet the food needs of the poor."
The initiative will also help bolster implementation of the new Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources.
The unprecedented effort will secure over 95 percent of the endangered crop diversity
held in developing country genebanks, many of which are under-funded and in disrepair.
In addition, it will fund a comprehensive global information system that will
allow plant breeders everywhere to search genebanks worldwide for traits needed
to combat new diseases and cope with climate change.
"Our effort to help hundreds of millions of small farmers and their families overcome
poverty and hunger rests in part on food security," said Sylvia Mathews Burwell,
President of the Gates Foundation’s Global Development Program. "But there can
be no food security without first securing the basis of our food production –
the genetic diversity of every crop, in particular those most important to the
poor that unfortunately are neglected by modern plant breeding. We invite others
to join us in securing this resource of immeasurable value."
"By providing access to crop genetic information, plant breeders across Africa
may be able to adapt their crops to varieties that will grow in different climate
conditions. Investing in this future may help stave off potential catastrophic
damage to some agricultural systems due to climate change. Not only will this
partnership combat hunger and protect crop diversity, but it also helps nations
prepare for the impacts of climate change," said Timothy E. Wirth, president of
the United Nations Foundation.
The genetic diversity found within each crop is the raw material that enables
plant breeders and farmers to develop higher yielding, more nutritious, and stress-resistant
varieties. It is also the cornerstone of successful adaptation to climate change,
providing the raw material for new "climate-ready" crop varieties. But much of
this diversity, held in developing country gene banks, is threatened by decades
of under-funding and neglect, as well as by wars and natural disasters.
"It is virtually impossible to exaggerate the importance of crop diversity. It
is a vital part of the solution to many of the world’s great challenges, from
environmental conservation to climate change and food security," said Norway’s
Minister of International Development Erik Solheim. "Put simply, crop diversity
allows us to grow food, and this partnership with the Gates Foundation provides
an opportunity to meet a host of food security challenges far into the future."
Homes for Orphan Crops; Seed Database for Farmer’s Worldwide
Among the 21 priority crops covered by the Gates-funded initiative are many
"orphan crops." Particularly important to the poor, these crops have been largely
bypassed by modern plant breeding, despite the need for high-yielding, nutritious
varieties. Some orphan crops, such as yam, cannot be grown from seeds, but need
to be cultivated from cuttings, roots, or cell cultures, making their conservation
more complex and expensive.
Therefore, the grant will finance research into inexpensive conservation techniques
for such crops, including cassava, potato, sweet potato, yam, taro and coconut.
These new technologies are expected to reduce conservation costs by 75 percent
and improve the security of collections of such crops.
The initiative will also transform communications for plant-breeders and farmers
around the world. It will fund an information system that will include 4,000,000
samples of more than 2,000 species of more than 150 cropsamounting to 85
percent of the diversity of all agricultural crops. The initiative will fund development
of a state-of-the-art genebank management software system, enter at least 100,000
new samples into the database, and evaluate at least 50 priority collections for
100 different traitsthus uncovering hidden genetic resources.
"This is the largest grant to support crop diversity ever made. We can now foresee
a time when orphan crops have secure homes, and when plant breeders across Africa
have access to the same crop genetic information as do their counterparts in Europe
and North America," Fowler said.
The new initiative also ensures that developing countries and international agricultural
research centers will be able to send at least 450,000 distinct seed samples to
the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Carved into the Arctic permafrost in Svalbard,
Norway, this depository of last resort for agricultural diversity is scheduled
to open in March 2008.
Finally, of the total grant, US$15 million will go to the Trust’s endowment. Its
proceeds will be used to maintain the collections of the 21 most important crops.
"Rescue and salvage operations are the beginning. The Trust’s endowment will ensure
the health and availability of these collections in perpetuity," Fowler said.
For further information, visit www.croptrust.org, www.unfoundation.org
and www.gatesfoundation.org .
Source: SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.32 Dinosaurs and crop diversity: how great is the loss?
Rome, Italy
How Great the Loss?
Adams' apple is extinct. And his beans are gone too. Both apple and bean varieties
bearing the name of an early president of the United States have vanished. In
fact, of the 7100 named varieties of apples growing in the U.S. in the 1800s,
some 6800 are probably now extinct. Ninety-five percent of almost 600 garden bean
varieties, 95% of more than 500 cabbage varieties, and 81% of 400 tomato varieties
have also disappeared.
Simply to say that they have disappeared fails to convey the finality of the situation.
"Death is one thing; an end to birth is something else," as biologists Soule and
Wilcox once pointed out. For the Ansault pear, described by the leading fruit
expert of the early 20th century as having flesh more "buttery" than any other
pear and possessing a "rich sweet flavor, and a distinct but delicate perfume,"
there is no more birth. It's extinct.
Given the business the Trust is in, we are used to fielding one very natural but
difficult question, "How much diversity has been lost?"
Percentages such as those just provided cannot give an accurate portrayal of the
loss of crop diversity, or the loss of potentially important traits. The Adams
apple may be extinct, but it was not the only red apple in the world. Red didn't
disappear. Many - theoretically even all - the individual genes found in Adams
apple could still exist, spread amongst the still-surviving varieties.
All plants are biologically related. Rice, wheat, and maize, for example, are
grasses and as such are closely related. Darwin explained such connections with
his theory of "common descent". We're all cousins. Indeed, chickens, as we just
discovered, are related to the long-gone Tyrannosaurus rex. And you and I share
genes with rice, wheat and the potted plant by the window. Perhaps as many as
50%. If this estimate is roughly accurate, then 50% of the genetic diversity of
a crop will continue to exist no matter how many varieties are lost, as long as
you and I are still alive.
So there's one admittedly mischievous answer to the question. No one seriously
fears losing the ubiquitous genes shared by cabbages and kings, however. Losing
genes associated with unique and potentially important characteristics in crops
is an entirely different matter. This is the diversity that will enable crops
to adapt to the challenges already present as well as to new and unknown threats
that will inevitably arise.
In the 1900s, the commercialization and increasing globalization of agriculture,
as well as the marketing and distribution of seeds by commercial and government
agencies, combined to produce motive and method for the replacement of numerous
diverse crop varieties with a smaller number of more genetically homogeneous,
scientifically-bred varieties. Garrison Wilkes likened the process to "taking
stones from the foundation in order to repair the roof." The new varieties unintentionally
undermined the biological basis upon which they were built. Production leapt forward,
but much crop diversity was lost, as noted by ample anecdotal accounts. But "because
no one can say exactly how much diversity once existed, no one can say exactly
how much has been lost historically," as FAO's first global assessment of the
state of crop diversity pointed out,
Likewise we cannot say with precision how much has been saved. Three independent
surveys of scientists undertaken in the 1980s and 1990s each concluded, however,
that a high percentage of existing diversity of major crops has been collected
and is in genebanks - as much as 95% for wheat, rice, maize and potato. Other
crops are less well represented. Perhaps a fifth of sorghum diversity and up to
half of sweet potato diversity remains to be collected and formally conserved.
Genebanks contain thousands of varieties that can no longer be found on anyone's
farm. The social and environmental conditions that gave rise to them in the first
place are quickly disappearing and are unlikely to reappear. It is fortunate that
many varieties were collected and placed in managed collections, otherwise the
extent of genetic erosion would have been far, far greater.
For the same reasons that so much diversity was lost in the last century, the
remaining diversity found on farms today and not in genebanks would have to be
considered seriously endangered. Only now, there is a new threat: climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paints a gloomy picture where up
to 30% of earth's species will be at an increased risk of extinction as global
temperatures rise. Profound climatic shifts will unavoidably exert pressure on
the remaining crop diversity not yet safeguarded in genebanks, including the "wild
relatives" of domesticated crops that have been an important source of disease
and pest resistance and have even salvaged a number of our major crops.
The time has come to acknowledge both the old and familiar threats to crop diversity
as well as the new challenges, collect samples of the remaining diversity, safeguard
all of it in genebanks, and guard those banks.
Lost and Found
The honest answer to the question of how much diversity has been lost is "we
just don't know". There was never a complete inventory of what there was "in the
first place". The word "gene" has only been around since 1900; clearly we have
no quantitative measures of the genetic diversity that existed before that.
We live in a world of wounds, as the ecologist Aldo Leopold once remarked. Both
Adams apple and Tyrannosaurus rex have departed. But apple varieties are not the
same as dinosaurs and therein lies a distinction worth pondering. The diversity
of apples and other crops can be saved in a secure and lasting manner. The global
system the Trust is helping develop will do just that, protecting the diversity
that will enable crops to adapt to and survive future changes in the environment.
Dinosaurs didn't have such a system, and they didn't stand a chance.
The important question is therefore not how much crop diversity has been lost
- we'll never know - but how much still exists and what we are going to do about
it. We can decide to get serious about conserving what's left, or follow the lead
of T. rex and take our chances.
FAO. The State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Rome: 1998.
http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPS/Pgrfa/pdf/swrfull.pdf
Guarino, Luigi. Approaches to Measuring Genetic Erosion. Bioversity International
http://apps3.fao.org/wiews/Prague/Paper3.jsp
The Global Diversity Trust is an independent international organization whose
mission is to ensure the long term conservation of crop diversity, the biological
foundation for agriculture and food security.
Source: The Global Diversity Trust - Analysis
and Reflections no. 8/2007 via SeedQuest.com
4 May 2007
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1.33 Drilling down into diversity: DNA fingerprinting
for crop plants
El Batán, Mexico
The promise of using DNA tools to characterize heterogeneous populations of tropical
crops is finally being realized, with help from CIMMYT
and partners.
“In the lab where I’m working, we have a number of problems using SSR markers.
I’m happy (now) that my problems are solved.” The words are those of Shirangi
Imalka Samararatne, researcher in Sri Lanka’s Plant Genetic Resources Centre,
after attending the training workshop “Molecular characterization of inbred lines
and populations in maize” given in New Delhi, India, by CIMMYT scientists and
collaborators during 1-3 April 2007.
Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are the tools of choice for molecular studies
in many crop species. They require very little DNA to use but can also be misread,
if the user does not have the experience to know what to look for, according to
CIMMYT molecular geneticist and workshop lecturer Marilyn Warburton. “Moreover, in a population
of diverse individuals, you can’t simply choose a single individual for DNA analysis
to ‘fingerprint’ the entire population; you need to sample many individuals,”
she says. “Participants in this course learned to run SSR markers on individuals
and also on bulk samples containing DNA from 15 individuals, saving time and money
in fingerprinting the population.”
The workshop was hosted by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI). It
was coordinated by IARI researcher B.M. Prasanna and sponsored by the Generation
Challenge Program (GCP) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR), as part of a competitive grant project. The event drew 19 participants
from 10 countries in Asia and Africa, with interest in a broad range of crops.
Nine resource persons from 5 countries gave lectures, lab presentations, computer
training, and hands-on practice.
Presentations covered DNA extraction, detection, and analysis methods, particularly
for bulked samples. “The bulked method allows the analysis of relationships between
entire plant populations and diversity levels within populations,” says Warburton.
“For maize, this means useful DNA characterization of breeding populations, improved
open-pollinated varieties, and even traditional maize landraces, in a single polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) reactionsomething previously not thought possible.”
The PCR technique is used to make large numbers of copies of a minute sample of
DNA for analysis.
One course participant, John Atoyebi, from Nigeria’s National Centre for Genetic
Resources and Biotechnology, hopes to apply the approach to speed the certification
and release of new, improved maize varieties for farmers in his country. The process
currently involves several years of expensive field testing to prove a new variety
is genetically distinct, uniform, and stable. “I’m working on the application
of molecular tools, such as DNA fingerprinting, for germplasm identification to
avoid duplication and for Nigeria’s variety release program. The course has fulfilled
my expectations.”
“This course shows how CIMMYT is helping partners gain access to and master relevant,
advanced technology whose applications ultimately benefit farmers,” says Warburton.
“The GCP competitive grant project, scheduled to wrap up this year, will show
how nearly one thousand maize populations migrated out of Latin America to the
rest of the world, providing information about which populations should be used
to improve maize breeding material around the world. Course participants who worked
on maize will be able to compare their own breeding material to the ones in this
study and determine which of the thousand could be incorporated into their program.
Further training at CIMMYT is being looked at by some of the course participants
through further funding from the GCP”
Source: CIMMYT
E-News, vol 4 no. 4 - April 2007 via SeedQuest.com
April 2007
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1.34 Australian sunflowers are newest addition to major
U.S. seed bank
Australia
Australian sunflowers are the newest addition to a major seed bank in the United
States, helping researchers to find varieties that are resistant to diseases and
insects that impact production around the world.
American botanist Gerard Seiler and pathologist Tom Gulya recently spent weeks
travelling across the country collecting seeds, accompanied by Gary Kong from
the Queensland Department of Primary Industries
and Fisheries (DPI&F).
Dr Kong used the trip to collect disease samples to help with research into rust
pathogens being carried out by the DPI&F with support from the Grains
Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and in close collaboration with
Pacific Seeds.
"While sunflowers are only grown commercially in Queensland and northern New South
Wales these days, there were small industries in WA, SA and Victoria many years
ago," Dr Kong said.
"Some wild populations may have originated from commercial varieties. However,
many populations are found in areas where sunflower has never been grown commercially
and disease records suggest a history as old as 150 years."
Plant species growing in isolation and in different environments adapt and evolve
over time and the US scientists are interested in the genetic diversity that may
have developed in the Australian wild sunflower over the past 150 years.
"The ultimate aim of their trip is gene mining, to see what characteristics can
be used to help breed new varieties with greater resistance to rust, other diseases
and insect pests."
The seeds have been taken to the Northern Crops Research Institute in North Dakota,
which is devoted entirely to sunflowers. The germplasm will then be lodged with
the Northern Region Plant Introduction Station and will be freely available to
sunflower breeders all over the world.
Dr Kong and his team will use the rust samples taken during the 10,000 km trip
to continue building their database and understanding of the development of new
races of the rust pathogen. This information is vital for research toward the
development of sunflower varieties with longer-lasting resistance to the ever-changing
rust disease.
Source: SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.35 Classification of Peruvian highland
maize races using plant traits
Genetic
Resources and Crop Evolution
DOI 10.1007/s10722-007-9224-7
R. Ortiz(1), José Crossa(1), Jorge Franco(2), Ricardo Sevilla (3) and Juan Burgueño(1)
(1)International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo. Postal 6-641,
Mexico, DF, Mexico
(2) Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, Avd.
Garzon 780, CP 12900 Montevideo, Uruguay
(3) Universidad Nacional Agraria, Av. La Universidad s/n, La Molina, Lima, Peru
Published online: 18 April 2007
Abstract
The maize of Latin America, with its enormous diversity, has played an important
role in the development of modern maize cultivars of the American continent. Peruvian
highland maize shows a high degree of variation stemming from its history of cultivation
by Andean farmers. Multivariate statistical methods for classifying accessions
have become powerful tools for classifying genetic resources conservation and
the formation of core subsets. This study has two objectives: (1) to use a numerical
classification strategy for classifying eight Peruvian highland races of maize
based on six vegetative traits evaluated in two years and (2) to compare this
classification with the existing racial classification. The numerical classification
maintained the main structure of the eight races, but reclassified parts of the
races into new groups (Gi). The new groups are more separated and well defined
with a decreasing accession within group × environment interaction. Most of the
accessions from G1 are from Cusco Gigante, all of the accessions from G3 (except
one) are from Confite Morocho, and all of the accessions from G7 are from Chullpi.
Group G2 has four accessions from Huayleño and four accessions from Paro, whereas
G4 has four accessions from Huayleño and five accessions from San Geronimo. Group
G5 has accessions from four races, and G6 and G8 formed small groups with two
and one accession each, respectively. These groups can be used for forming core
subsets for the purpose of germplasm enhancement and assembling gene pools for
further breeding.
Contributed by Rodomiro Ortiz (CIMMYT)
R.ORTIZ@CGIAR.ORG
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1.36 Wheat midge resistance in upcoming
varieties in Canada
Wheat midge breakthrough aided by the Western Grains Research Foundation
-
Sasktatoon, Saskatchewan
Four wheat varieties with resistance to wheat midge were recommended for registration
at the variety registration meetings held recently in Saskatoon. The varieties
promise to dramatically change how producers deal with this damaging pest. Presently,
the only defense against high wheat midge numbers is a pesticide application.
Developed by wheat breeders from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Winnipeg
and Swift Current, through the support of the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF),
three of the varieties are in the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat class
and one is in the Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES) wheat class.
“These numbered lines are still two to four years away from commercial production,
but when available, they should save farmers a lot of time and money,” notes Lanette
Kuchenski, Executive Director of the WGRF. “Western Canadian farmers should be
proud that they aided the development of these breakthrough varieties through
their support of the wheat and barley check-offs.”
Old American soft red winter wheat varieties were the source of the resistance
trait. It has taken more than 15 years, but researchers have been able to move
the trait into spring wheat varieties that also boast superior yield and agronomic
traits.
The wheat midge resistance is produced by the early induction of two naturally
occurring compounds within the wheat kernels – ferrulic acid and -comaric acid.
Due to these compounds, wheat midge larvae are not able to develop when feeding
on the immature kernels. These compounds dissipate by the time the crop has matured.
To prevent wheat midge from developing resistance to the gene controlling this
trait, researchers and regulatory bodies are exploring the potential of mixing
a small percentage of a susceptible wheat variety with the new resistant varieties.
Called an interspersed refuge, this will allow some wheat midge to survive, thereby
reducing the selection pressure for a resistant strain of midge. It will also
allow wheat midge parasites to continue having a host. Currently, there is only
one gene known which confers resistance to midge. Therefore, it is very important
to protect this gene.
Wheat midge was first discovered in Western Canada back in the mid 80’s and has
been a sporadic problem ever since. The insect caused losses in many parts of
Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 2006. Damage by midge was the primary downgrading
factor in these 2006 crops, and the pest is expected to cause economic losses
over even a wider area this year.
Yield and grade losses from wheat midge are often dramatic. Producers have difficulty
knowing which fields have wheat midge numbers that warrant spraying and the application
window is short. Insecticide applications need to occur just as the crop is heading
in order to be effective.
“Wheat varieties with built in resistance will be a major breakthrough for producers,”
says Kuchenski. “The payback on the research investment should be dramatic.”
Source: SeedQuest.com
5 April 2007
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1.37 Why some aphids can't stand the
heat
For pea aphids, the ability to go forth and multiply can depend on a single
gene, according to new research.
An overheated aphid with a mutation in that gene can't reproduce.
The gene isn't even in the insect -- it's in tiny symbiotic bacteria housed inside
special cells inside the aphid.
"It's the first time a mutation in a symbiont has been shown to have a huge impact
on host ecology," said Nancy A. Moran, Regents' Professor of ecology and evolutionary
biology at The University of Arizona in Tucson. "One version of the gene is good
if the aphids experience heat, and the other version is good if they are in cool
conditions."
Neither organism can survive on its own. The Buchnera aphidicola bacteria, which
cannot live on their own, supply the aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, with essential
nutrients.
UA researchers Helen E. Dunbar, a senior research specialist, Alex C. C. Wilson,
now at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., Nicole R. Ferguson, a member
of UA's Undergraduate Biology Research Program, and Moran are publishing their
findings in the May 2007 issue of PLoS Biology.
Their research paper is titled "Aphid Thermal Tolerance is Governed by a Point
Mutation in Bacterial Symbionts." The research was funded by the National Science
Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Howard Hughes Medical Institute
provides funding for the UA's Undergraduate Biology Research Program.
Aphids reproduce asexually, so juveniles are clones of their mothers. The symbiotic
bacteria are passed on from mother to child. Moran's lab maintains colonies of
aphids, each descended from a single ancestral aphid mother.
The scientists found the heat-intolerant gene by accident.
Wilson, then a UA postdoctoral fellow in Moran's lab, was testing the response
of some aphid and bacterial genes from one aphid colony. The bacteria's ibpA gene
codes for a protein, called a heat-shock protein, that protects the cell's innards
from thermal damage.
Wilson expected all the ibpA genes from one colony to be the same.
She was surprised that, after aphids were heated for four hours, some of their
symbiotic bacteria produced about 100 times more of the ibpA-encoded heat-shock
protein than others.
"It was a huge difference," Moran said.
A piece of DNA called a promoter switches the ibpA gene on or off. The scientists
found some of the bacteria had a disabling mutation in their promoters. Those
bacteria could no longer manufacture much of the protective heat-shock protein
and were therefore killed by the heat treatment.
In another experiment, the researchers gave a 95 F (35 C) heat treatment to aphids
whose bacteria carried the mutated promoter, the regular promoter and to Tucson
aphids. For each group, the team measured production of a molecule, RNA, that
codes for the protective heat-shock protein.
Tucson genes produced three times more RNA than the normal genes from lab colony
aphids. The lab colony genes produced about 50 times more than did the genes carrying
the mutated promoter.
Aphids proliferate in the summer, and their predator defense can expose them to
additional heat.
"When one is bitten, it releases an alarm pheromone and the others all jump off
the plant," Moran said. The ground can be more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer
than the cool, shady plant.
To test the effect of heat on aphids themselves, the scientists subjected juveniles
to 95 F (35 C) for four hours.
The heat-treated aphids hosting bacteria with mutated promoters lived, but didn't
reproduce.
"The heat shock kills the bacteria very quickly, although it doesn't kill the
aphid," Dunbar said. "But she's sterilized and doesn't have any babies."
The bacteria provide nutrients essential for aphid reproduction.
Conversely, aphids with bacteria with the mutated promoter reproduced faster at
the temperatures, 60-68 F (15 - 20 C), at which aphids are maintained in the lab.
Results from wild aphids suggest the genetic makeup of a pea aphid's bacteria
depends on climate. Bacteria from Tucson aphids all had heat-tolerant promoters.
Bacteria from Michigan or New York state aphids were five to seven times more
likely to have the heat-intolerant, mutated promoter.
The two promoters are barely different -- the heat-sensitive version has 10 adenine
molecules in a row, and the other has 11.
"The presence or absence of one (adenine) has a huge effect on how well the host
does, how well it can survive and reproduce at different temperatures," Moran
said.
When a bacterial cell reproduces, a new DNA molecule is copied from the original.
But the many adenine molecules in a row makes it easier for a mistake to delete
or insert an adenine, causing a mutation, Moran said.
Pea aphids, native to Europe, are now found worldwide. Many other species of insects
have similar symbiotic relationships with bacteria. Such easy-to-arise mutations
in symbiotic bacteria could explain how some insect pests can expand into new
environments, Moran and Dunbar said.
Moran's next step is working with researchers in Wisconsin to see how the bacterial
gene variants affect aphids in the field.
###
Contact information:
Mari N. Jensen: mnjensen@email.arizona.edu
Helen Dunbar: dunbar@email.arizona.edu
Nancy Moran: nmoran@email.arizona.edu
Related Web sites:
The Moran Laboratory: http://eebweb.arizona.edu/faculty/moran
UA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: http://eebweb.arizona.edu
Center for Insect Science: http://cis.arl.arizona.edu
University of Arizona science news is online @ http://uanews.org/science
Source: EurekAlert.org
19 April 2007
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1.38 Research on grey mould offers
possible breakthrough in tomato cultivation
Tomato growers are likely to soon be able to cultivate new tomato varieties
without having to use pesticides against grey mould (Botrytis cinerea).
This is the conclusion of the STW-sponsored thesis by Richard Finkers from Wageningen
University, with which he hopes to earn his doctorate on 3 April 2007. Finkers
designed highly efficient methods whereby tomato varieties can be resistant to
grey mould. The leading company De Ruiter Seeds is already applying these methods
in its breeding programme.
Finkers started off with wild tomato accessions that were resistant to grey mould.
When crossing the resistant wild tomato Solanum habrochaites LYC4 with
the susceptible S. lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker, he identified two areas
with resistant genes in the DNA.
This, however, did not explain all the variations in resistance. With this in
mind, Finkers next made a step-by-step scan of the entire genome of the wild tomato
to identify locations that have an effect on resistance. Ten areas were found
that accommodated resistance factors against grey mould. DNA-markers were then
developed for each area to be able to track the presence of each resistance factor
in breeding programmes.
With help of the DNA-markers, the identified areas can now be intentionally introgressed
in the breeding programmes of De Ruiter Seeds, a Dutch company with a global reputation
in the field. Using the DNA-markers, it expects to market new tomatoes that are
resistant to grey mould in the near future. The new varieties will mean tomato
growers will have to devote far less resources – or perhaps none at all – to combating
B. cinerea.
An additional benefit of these new tomatoes is that they will be more suitable
for closed glasshouse cultivation. This new type of glasshouse has a higher atmospheric
humidity that actually increases the chance of grey mould activity. By providing
tomato varieties resistant to grey mould, De Ruiter Seeds will fill a worldwide
need that has long been around.
The research was partly financed by STW (the Technology and Sciences Association)
and De Ruiter Seeds. As the developed knowledge obtained from this research has
been patented, and therefore both protected and made accessible.
For more information: Richard Finkers richard.finkers@wur.nl
30 March 2007
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1.39 Towards identification of photoperiod genes in
cotton
Induced mutations can be used to produce cotton without day-length sensitivity.
This technique can allow wild and primitive cotton germplasm to be fully utilized
in improvement programs. Most of the cotton exotic germplasm are photoperiod-sensitive
that does not flower in long-day conditions of summer cultivations.
A group of researchers from the United States and Uzbekistan have presented conversion
studies in cotton that turned photoperiod sensitive germplasm into day-neutral
(where flowering is not affected by day-length). The researchers used 32P irradiation
to derive the cotton mutants. The mutants were subsequently examined by using
250 microsatellite (SSR) primer pairs to determine patterns of mutation in the
SSR loci.
It was found out that the induced mutagenesis both increased and decreased the
allele sizes of SSRs in mutants with the higher mutation rate in SSRs containing
dinucleotide motifs. The researchers have also determined that there was significant
modification of mutants from their original wild types, with most mutants having
improved agronomic qualities. The results may be useful in understanding photoperiod-related
mutations, and can aid in the identification of photoperiodic flowering genes
in cotton in the future.
For the complete paper published by the Journal
of Heredity, please visit http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/esm007v1.
Source: CropBiotech Update via SeedQuest.com
20 April 2007
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1.40 In vitro breeding of Brassica for metal phytoextraction
Research on the use of several plant species for metal phytoextraction had
been initiated in the past. Metal phytoextraction is the uptake of heavy metals,
such as cadmium and lead, from contaminated soils to the aboveground parts of
plants. The contaminants are then removed from the site by harvesting the plants.
Indian mustard, Brassica juncea, is among the plant species recognized
to have potential for phytoextraction. Researchers in Switzerland recently have
shown that in vitro breeding and somaclonal variation can be used to improve
the potential of the plant species to extract and accumulate toxic metals. The
researchers generated somaclonal variants of the Indian mustard from metal-tolerant
callus cells.
The new phenotypes were found to have improved tolerance to cadmium, zinc and
lead under hydrophonic conditions. These plants were able to extract cadmium and
lead by up to six and four times higher than the control plants, respectively.
The researchers concluded that the clones could be used to further assess metal
accumulation and extraction properties in contaminated soils under real field
conditions for phytoremediation purpose.
The abstract in Plant Cell Reports, with links to the full paper for journal subscribers,
is at http://www.springerlink.com/content/p0p370n036253r80/.
From CropBiotech Update 4 April 2007
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.41 Cassava varieties bred with resistance
to Cassava Brown Streak Disease
Cassava varieties resistant to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) have been
developed by scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA) in collaboration with their counterparts at the National Agricultural Research
Systems in Tanzania. This is good news for African farmers who suffer as much
as 80% yield losses in cassava production to CBSD. This dreaded root rot-causing
disease has been ravaging the cassava belt in the Great Lake region.
Dr Edward Kanju, IITA cassava plant breeder, and Mr Haji Saleh, from the Ministry
of Agriculture, Kizimbani, Zanzibar, say that "The farmers involved in the participatory
breeding project 'drove' the government to officially release the CBSD field-resistant
cultivars. The challenge is now to replace the susceptible plants with the newly
released resistant varieties."
Read the full news article at http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_details.aspx?articleid=1004&zoneid=81
.
From CropBiotech Update 4 May 2007:
Contributed by Margaret Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding & Genetics
Cornell University
mes25@cornell.edu
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1.42 Amino acids profile in cassava, its
interspecific hybrid and progenies
Abstract
Cassava roots have low protein content (0.7-2%). Amino-acids such as lysine and
methionine are also low, whereas some research reports indicated the absence of
methionine. The amino-acid profile of a cassava common cultivar and an interspecific
hybrid -namely ICB 300, were analyzed by the computerized amino acid analizer
Hitachi L-8500. The interspecific hybrid has 10-times more lysine and 3-times
more methionine than the common cassava cultivar: lysine content was 0.010 g per
100 g in the common cassava cultivar while it reached 0.098 in the interspecific
hybrid. Methionine in the common cassava cultivar was 0.014 g per 100 g whereas
it reached 0.041 g per 100 g in the interspecific hybrid. Total amino acid content
in the common cassava cultivar was 0.254 g per 100g viz. a viz. 1.664 g per 100g
in the interspecific hybrid. The genetic variability of the amino
acid profile and quantity indicates the feasibility of selecting interspecific
hybrids that are rich in both crude protein and amino acids. This is the first
report on high true protein in cassava root.
Article available online at: http://www.geneconserve.pro.br/artigo_35.htm
Nagib M. A. Nassar(1) and Marcelo Vale de Sousa(2)
(1)Departamento de Genética e Morfología and
(2)Departamento de Biologia Celular respectively,
Universidade de Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
Contributed by Nagib Nassar
nagnassa@rudah.com.br
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1.43 Prompt progress made against a new threat to watermelon
Washington, DC
A keen eye, fast action, and a vast plant collection may help nip in the bud a
potential widespread threat to watermelons.
Last July, plant pathologist Chandrasekar Kousik of the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, S.C., was conducting field
studies on a watermelon disease when he made a startling discovery: significant
infestations of broad mites on watermelon plants.
Kousik knew that he had made a troublesome finding, as broad mites had never been
reported on watermelon plants in the United States.
Broad mites, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, feed on at least 60 plant families. Cucumbers
are highly susceptible to the mite, which on the watermelon plants was seen damaging
tender leaves and growing tips. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an important
economic commodity grown in 44 states--most prominently in Florida, Georgia, Texas,
California, Indiana, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The discovery inspired Kousik, fellow Vegetable Laboratory scientists Amnon Levi
and Alvin Simmons, and Clemson University researchers to seek ways to use plants'
natural resistance to fight off the mite.
They turned to a collection of wild watermelon--plants from different regions
of the world--maintained by the ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit
in Griffin, Ga.
The researchers studied 219 plant accessions and ultimately chose six they regarded
as having the best resistance potential against broad mites. Kousik then led greenhouse
studies that confirmed this resistance in the six selected introductions by artificially
infesting the candidate plants with broad mites that had been cultured on susceptible
watermelon plants.
According to Kousik, these wild watermelon vari