PLANT BREEDING NEWS
EDITION
203
An
Electronic Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding
Clair
H. Hershey, Editor
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1.
NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.01 G8 to commit $20bn for food security
1.02 New
crops needed for new climate
1.03
1.04 A million hectares of potatoes
in the developing world
1.05 No maize, no life!
1.06 IITA researchers present blueprint on doubling maize production in
1.07 Government
of
1.08
1.09 New national genome centre launched in the
1.10 Joint ICARDA‐ ARC
Wheat Improvement Program for Irrigated Areas in Central and
1.11
1.12 New tomato
hybrids are on the way - Seed companies put IPM researchers’ findings to use
1.13 Scientific strategies can save dryland agriculture
1.14 A truce in the crop wars
1.15 The role of genetically modified crops in
1.16
1.17
1.18 Traditional Thai hill farmers help preserve genetic diversity of rice
1.19 New, highly contagious strains of potato virus Y in
1.20 New strain of stem rust on wheat in
1.21 Gene developed through conventional breeding to improve cowpea aphid resistance
1.22 Scientists develop rust-proof
soybean for
1.23 ARS releases corky root-resistant
lettuce lines
1.24 Canadian researchers working
to develop super lycopene tomato
1.25 Double chromosomes equals more plant power
1.26 Can these "amber waves of grain" become perennials?
1.27 Rice defies its reputation as a thirsty crop
1.28 Glimmer of hope in fight against iron deficiency in rice
1.29 Scientists use new type of
genetic modification to developing salt-tolerant crops
1.30 Global rice research community provides critical tools to unravel the diversity
of rice
1.31 Gene breakthrough secures crops
1.32
1.33 New tools for discovering
1.34
1.35 Researchers publish integrated genetic and cytogenetic map of the cucumber
genome
1.36 En busca del mapa genómico de la patata
1.37 Researchers develop microchip
that can measure real-time water stress
1.38 Global Plant Council of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
2.01 Launching of the open-access
journal *Plant Biology International*
2.02 Issue II/2009 of the Newsletter on Organic Seeds and Plant Breeding
2.03 Call for papers -- Geneconserve
3.01 GFU and ICUC combine their news services
3.02 Update on the Crop Genebank Knowledge Base
(None posted)
5.01
5.02 Scientific careers at Monsanto
5.03 Job
announcement: CSREES/USDA
6. MEETINGS, COURSES
7. EDITOR
1 NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.01
G8 to commit $20bn for food security
10 July 2009
By Guy Dinmore in L’Aquila
The G8 summit will pledge $20bn over three years, $5bn more
than initially expected, to boost agricultural investment and fight hunger.
Franco Frattini, foreign minister of Italy, told the FT
as the summit ended that the final declaration would contain a pledge of $20
bn over three years for the food security fund. Italy’s contribution would
be $480m, he said.
Management of the fund had not been finally decided but
there would be close cooperation between the World Bank and the Rome-based
UN food agencies, the minister said.
On the final day of the three-day G8 summit in L’Aquila, central Italy,
leaders of the G8 club of rich countries were joined by heads of African governments
and international institutions to finalise the multi-billion dollar food security
fund for agriculture.
Barack Obama, US president, sat at the same dinner table
on Thursday night with Muammer Gaddafi, Libya’s leader, invited to the summit
by Italy in his role as head of the African Union.
US deputy national security advisor Denis McDonough told
reporters that the US contribution to the fund would be about $3bn over three
years. He said late on Thursday that pledges were still “bouncing around”.
Aid organisations will be carefully scrutinising the pledges
to make sure that the funding represents new money and has not been stripped
from existing budgets elsewhere. Also to be hammered out is what agency or
agencies will administer the trust fund. The World Bank is a prime candidate.
After the disappointment on Thursday when the world’s main
polluting countries failed to agree on a comprehensive climate change package,
including targets for emissions cuts, G8 heads were keen to conclude the summit
with an impressive deal for the developing world.
They were joined on Friday by the leaders of Ethiopia, Algeria,
Angola, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. UN food agencies
also attended.
Japan and the European Union were expected to pledge some
$3bn each to the fund.
Aid agencies have skewered some G8 countries, in particular
France and Italy, for failing to deliver on their promises to increase development
aid that were made at the Gleneagles summit four years ago.
Save the Children said contributions from G8 countries were
already $20bn short of the pledges they made and that figure is likely to
rise to $25bn next year.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s billionaire prime minister, was
stung by accusations last week that Italy had
cut its aid budget, saying it was a mistake that would be rectified.
Despite that assurance, Marcello Fondi, a senior foreign ministry official,
later told an aid conference that his ministry’s aid budget would fall by
a further 10 per cent in 2010, according to Save the Children spokesman Adrian
Lovett.
UN food agencies say more than 1bn people in the world are
going hungry. A downward trend over last decades in the proportion of the
world’s population suffering from hunger has been reversed, in part because
of soaring food prices.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited
2009
Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b71a9052-6d2b-11de-9032-00144feabdc0.html?FORM=ZZNR9&nclick_check=1
++++++++++++++++++++++
1.02 New crops needed for new climate
Global food security in a changing climate depends
on the nutritional value and yield of staple food crops. Researchers at
The research, to be presented by Dr Ros Gleadow
on 29 June 2009 at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting in
Glasgow, has shown that the concentration of cyanogenic glycosides, which
break down to release toxic hydrogen cyanide, increased in plants in elevated
CO2. This was compounded by the fact that protein content decreased,
making the plants overall more toxic as the ability of herbivores to break
down cyanide depends largely on the ingestion of sufficient quantities of
protein.
Data have also shown that cassava, a staple food
crop in tropical and subtropical regions due to its tolerance of arid conditions,
may experience yield reductions in high CO2. Combined with an increase
in cyanogenic glycosides, this has
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/sfeb-ncn062409.php
Contact: Tess Livermore
Society for Experimental Biology
Source: EurekAlert.org
1.03
High
quality seeds could help the country to become self-sufficient and export
surplus output
Will
As part of the campaign, a US$500,000 FAO project, due
to begin in September 2009, will help
The plan to intensify
According to FAO figures, West African rice imports reached
6 million tonnes in 2001 and forecasts suggest the figure is likely to rise
to 11 million tonnes by 2010.
A net gain of more than US$55 million
The best way of reducing
These same experts calculate that if
Rice is therefore a key product and a priority in the
plan to revive the country
In the medium term, an increase in production of high
quality rice seeds should lead to a sufficient rise in annual rice output
to cover 70% of domestic demand. In addition, increased revenues would lead
to better livelihoods for farmers and would make local rice cultivation production
more competitive.
As an added bonus, the
Africa Rice Centre (WARDA) asserts that protein levels in rice
obtained from high quality seeds, especially the NERICA variety (see Box),
are considerably higher than those of traditional varieties.
Supporting the FAO project are WARDA, various departments
within the
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26873.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
++++++++++++++++++++++
1.04 A million hectares of potatoes in the developing
world
Potato varieties bred with CIP materials or obtained
with help from the center now occupy over 1 million hectares of land worldwide.
This statistic comes from a survey of 23 national potato-breeding programs
in developing countries in
Read more at http://www.cipotato.org/pressroom/press_releases_detail.asp?cod=62
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding &
+++++++++++++++++++++++
1.05 No maize, no life!
In Morogoro, a drought-prone area in
Read more at http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/2009/jun/nomaizenolife.htm
Supplying the world
Increasing at only 0.9% each year, wheat production is
lagging behind the demands of a global population that grows 1.5% or more
annually. Recent price spikes, local grain shortages, and associated civil
unrest show the dangers of complacency regarding supplies of key food crops
like wheat. A
Source: CIMMYT: http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/2009/jun/wheatFacts.htm
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding &
++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.06 IITA researchers present blueprint on doubling
maize production in
IITA maize researchers have presented a blueprint on doubling
maize production to the Nigerian government. The blueprint, which contained
empirical facts and recommendations, proved that the oil-rich nation could
double maize production and called for the strengthening of the country’s
seed system to tackle the food crisis confronting the world.
“The recommendations should be taken seriously because
if implemented and sustained, they would bring solutions to the food crisis
especially as it concerns maize production,” says Prof. M.A Fakorede, a maize
researcher at the
In
Dr. Oyewole Ajala, Team Leader and Maize Breeder at the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture sought government support
for the seed sector to overcome the limitation poised by poor seed supply
to farmers.
“
According to her, apart from ensuring food security,
the research is in line with the federal government’s seven-point agenda.
The Doubling Maize research project began in 2006 and
was funded by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
while partners included scientists at the Institute of Agricultural Research
& Training (IAR&T), Ibadan-based IITA, National Rice/Maize Center
-National Accelerated Food Production Program, Institute for Agricultural
Research, National Cereals Research Institute, the University of Ilorin and
the National Agricultural Extension & Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).
The team deployed several newly-developed maize varieties
including those that were drought-tolerant, low nitrogen-tolerant, Striga-tolerant,
stemborer-resistant and early maturing varieties to mitigate the challenge
faced by resource-poor farmers in maize production.
Other recommendations made by the researchers include:
• government should maintain a buy-back policy
• extensive field management training of extension, seed
company and staff of other agencies engaged in maize promotion
• scaling up of promising technologies
• generation of accurate data through appropriate data
mining and actual generation
• investment in production and promotion of labour saving
tools and
• Continued investment in postharvest research-for-development
to improve market.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26967.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++
1.07 Government
of
Today, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry
Ritz announced that the Government of Canada has committed $13 million to
combat wheat stem rust, a fungus which may eventually pose a threat to
"
This $13 million investment will be used to develop new
varieties of wheat resistant to this fungus. This research by Canadian scientists
is at the forefront of international efforts. Canadian research will not only
bring Canadian farmers resistant varieties of wheat, it will also lead to
a greater understanding of the biology of the fungus, and will make a
This strain of wheat stem rust, known as Ug99, is not
currently a threat to Canadian wheat crops, but the strain has been spreading
slowly east across
Nobel Prize winner and Chair of the Borlaug Global Rust
Initiative, Dr. Norman Borlaug, commended Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
on making this important investment in wheat rust research, calling it an
"important action to protect the wheat crop in North America and worldwide."
He added that the investment "is a
The funding for this research work is from Growing Forward
programming, under the Animal and Plant Health Research initiative.
BACKGROUNDER
On The Research Program
The Animal and Plant Health research initiative, established
under Growing Forward, will support research projects that focus on emerging
threats to the sector such as wheat rust and club root, and aims to develop
risk mitigation strategies and measures to be adopted by the Canadian agri-food
sector.
The $13 million is being invested in an initiative that
builds on ongoing work on wheat rust (a
Most of the funds allocated to this initiative will be
used to advance, through science, the understanding of the Wheat Stem Rust
variant Ug99 - a fungal pathogen causing a wheat disease that is spreading
globally - which could impact the Canadian sector as current wheat varieties
have limited resistance to this new fungus.
These funds will be used to research the genetics and
pathology of Ug99 and similar virulent strains of wheat stem rust caused by
the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis. Furthermore, scientists will strive
to develop new wheat germplasm that is resistant to Ug99 and other emerging
pathotypes.
The funds will be used for research support, salaries
of
On Ug99
A new type of stem rust was discovered in
Current Canadian and international commercial wheat varieties
have little or no resistance to this rust species. Should the rust become
established in
Stem rust is the most destructive disease of wheat. In
1954, it destroyed about 40% of the Canadian spring wheat crop.
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
(CIMMYT) is providing leadership for the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative that
has concluded to date that only 0.3% of the more than 44 million hectares
planted with known varieties of wheat has moderate resistance to Ug99.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26879.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.08
Rome/Brussels
At a time when over one billion people are undernourished
worldwide,
The EU-funded aid package to 13 countries in
"
He noted that high and volatile food prices continue
to plague developing countries and that hunger is on the rise even more because
of the global economic crisis, causing lower income and increasing unemployment
in developing countries.
Quick and lasting impact
In order to provide a rapid response to high food prices
in developing countries, a €1 billion ‘Food Facility
"For all developing countries, a healthy agricultural
sector is vital to overcome poverty and hunger," said Roberto Ridolfi,
heading the EU Food Facility, who praised the role of the UN Secretary-General
"The Food Facility highlights our successful partnership
with FAO," he added. "Its results will testify to our shared commitment
to the plight of those are daily struggling in order to provide a meal to
their families
FAO NEWS RELEASE 09/68
+++++++++++++++++++++++
1.09 New national
genome centre launched in the
A new
The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC)
will further the
TGAC has been established in
Speaking about the opening, Minister of State for Science
and Innovation, Lord Drayson said:
“The
“This project goes to show that partnership is the key
to success - the new centre will help to advance vital research as well as
stimulate economic development and generate new jobs.”
TGAC science will concentrate on understanding the genomes
of economically and socially important plants, animals and microbes. The exact
projects that TGAC will initially work on will be decided by an independent
advisory board but candidates include:
·
Helping to replace petrol with eco-friendly
bioenergy
·
By sequencing the genome of perennial
ryegrass, an important source of energy for livestock, scientists will gain
the knowledge to increase the crop’s yield while reducing fertiliser requirements
– making sustainable bioenergy a real option
·
Protecting livestock from exotic diseases
·
Emerging exotic diseases pose a serious
threat to
·
Producing more nutritious fruit and
vegetables
·
Certain fruit and vegetables contain
beneficial compounds that have been associated with reduced incidence of some
cancers. Better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the synthesis
of these compounds could allow the breeding of, for example, tomatoes with
higher amounts of antioxidants.
The sequencing of these and other genomes will create
a huge amount of data. The successful handling and interpretation of the data
will be critical to TGAC fulfilling its potential. To achieve this, TGAC will
become a national centre of excellence in bioinformatics – the application
of computer science and statistical analysis to biological research.
A key aim for TGAC is to combine world-class genome science
with an innovation programme that aims to benefit the regional and national
economy. TGAC will utilise its own discoveries to maximise economic and social
impact and is also committed to making cutting edge facilities available to
For more information about TGAC visit: www.tgac.bbsrc.ac.uk
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26778.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.10 Joint
ICARDA‐ ARC
Wheat Improvement Program for Irrigated Areas in Central and
On 18 July ICARDA Director General Dr. Mahmoud Solh and
Dr. Ayman Abou Hadid, President of Egypt’s
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26884.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.11
In July 2009,
The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII),
funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and
led by
Contributed by Andrea Besley
Communication & Outreach Coordinator
Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII)
alm62@cornell.edu
1.12 New tomato
hybrids are on the way - Seed companies put IPM researchers’ findings to use
In 2010, growers will have access to new tomato varieties
that resist some of the most threatening tomato diseases and can be grown
in ways that are gentler to the environment.
As a commercial crop grown throughout the region, tomatoes
were valued at nearly $90 million last year in
Both conventional and organic growers have voiced a need
for improved control of early blight and late blight, two of the main fungal
diseases of tomato. Conventional growers rely on fungicide applications that
can cost up to $200 per acre each season, using compounds that have high environmental
impact yet still fail to adequately control the diseases. Copper fungicides
are used in organic fresh market tomato production, but copper has been shown
to suppress only late blight.
Plant breeder Martha Mutschler and plant pathologist
Tom Zitter (both
The resistant lines that Mutschler developed provided
outstanding control of both early blight and late blight when treated with
pesticides that have low environmental impact (as measured by the environmental
impact quotient formula). The new lines also work well when treated with biological
fungicides in combination with fixed copper.
The urgent need for development of these new disease-resistant
tomato varieties became clear when the team found that some early blight pathogens
were not controlled by strobilurin fungicides. Mutschler and Zitter also discovered
a high occurrence of Septoria leaf spot in the study’s early stages, prompting
them to launch a new effort to add Septoria resistance, creating triple resistant
lines to control all three fungal diseases. The promise of their results has
helped them obtain additional funding so the team can continue their work
and bring these benefits to fruition.
The Northeastern IPM Center is supported
by the USDA’s
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26913.htm
Source: Insights, Northeastern
IPM Center newsletter via SeedQuest.com
1.13 Scientific
strategies can save dryland agriculture
by William D. Dar, Director General, ICRISAT
Climate change will make Indian dryland agriculture harder,
but a scientific strategy offers real hope, says ICRISAT head William D. Dar.
Analysts sometimes describe
But rainfall patterns are likely to shift with climate
change. The monsoons may be delayed and unpredictable rains and heavy downpours
are likely to be the rule rather than the exception.
The World Bank has suggested that
Yet the perennial gamble can still be weighted in farmers
Four steps to security
ICRISAT
But a drought mitigation strategy, developed by ICRISAT
and partners, can break this unholy nexus. Informed by science, it is based
on four key activities.
First is developing drought-tolerant and climate change-ready
crops to match available growing seasons and low soil moisture. ICRISAT
Supported by the Indian government, ICRISAT has created
an advanced biotechnology laboratory to enhance breeding on drought tolerance
in key crops. And, with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
and state university partners, ICRISAT has developed and released varieties
of sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut that are all more
drought-tolerant than currently-grown varieties.
Second is pre-emptive action to replace vulnerable crops
with more drought-tolerant ones. Fast-growing crops thrive and yield well
even when water may become scarce, as they mature before soil moisture gets
depleted. Farmers in sorghum growing areas, for example, could plant pearl
millet to escape the onset of drought.
Third is efficiently managing natural resources to arrest
land degradation, conserve soil moisture and harvest water during the rainy
season for supplemental irrigation.
Fourth is empowering stakeholders by building capacity,
enabling rural institutions and formulating policies that support dryland
agriculture. Capacity building, in the form of knowledge sharing and strategic
partnerships, lets people accumulate valuable
ICRISAT also recommends farmers grow an array of crops,
together with rearing livestock and having other activities that generate
income. This can enhance farm income when times are good and lessen the risks
of total crop failure if drought strikes.
Such science-based strategies have already been shown
to be effective. A pilot project at Kothapally in Andhra Pradesh has helped
improve livelihoods through community watershed management. Its success has
led to the project being repeated in 240 micro-watersheds in
Points for policymakers
With climate change likely to exacerbate water scarcity,
countries need to efficiently manage their water resources. This means, among
other things, immediately formulating and implementing policies and programmes
to support dryland agriculture. In particular, policymakers must:
1. significantly increase public investment in dryland
agriculture, including agricultural research and rural infrastructure;
2. develop sophisticated techniques for predicting and
forecasting the monsoons in the context of climate change;
3. enable collective action and rural institutions for
agriculture and natural resource management;
4. rehabilitate degraded lands and diversify livelihood
systems for landless and vulnerable groups;
5. recharge depleted groundwater aquifers and enforce
strong regulations on groundwater extraction;
6. clearly define and enforce water rights in watershed
communities;
7. roll out the community watershed management model;
8. price water and power to more accurately reflect their
opportunity costs;
9. support water-saving options such as drip irrigation
and dryland crops; and
10. include dryland crops in the minimum support price
scheme.
Substantial investments in improved water management
and new technology, along with appropriate policy and institutional innovations,
can significantly increase agricultural productivity.
William D. Dar is director general of the International
Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
Source: This opinion is
based on an article published in The Hindu.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26892.htm
Source: SciDevNet via
SeedQuest.com
1.14 A truce in the crop wars
27June 2009
By Mac Margolis
A funny thing happened on the way to the next green revolution.
The world
Not quite. Europe, much of Asia and parts of Africa fiercely
resist filling the larder with genetically modified groceries, and many in
agribusiness despair that they always will. So instead, they
Don
Part of the story is that conventional breeding can still
do certain things extremely well—even better than genetic manipulation. What
GM techniques are best at is isolating particularly useful bits of
Without resorting to GM, researchers at the Brazilian agricultural
institute Embrapa are breeding varieties of upland rice that not only ward
off pests and increase yield, but also contain up to double the vital minerals
(iron, zinc) found in unimproved varieties. They have tripled the amount of
vitamin A in corn and boosted iron uptake in wheat. Cimmyt, a wheat- and maize-improvement
center in Mexico, is breeding corn for pest resistance that has cut losses
to weevils in half. The German biotech company BASF has launched an improved,
non-GM strain of corn that resists striga, a weed that ravages African fields,
and is working to breed high-yielding commercial strains of wheat that also
resist fungus and drought.
The recent advances in genomics are saving scientists time,
grief and money over old methods of crossbreeding by allowing them to quickly
zero in on the genes associated with desired traits like high growth or vitamin
A content or efficient ethanol production. Ag experts are especially excited
by a technique called marker-assisted breeding, which mines a plant genome
to enhance native breeding. Just as modern medicine has found ways to track
bits of human
Avoiding gene tinkering also saves money that would otherwise
be spend on lawyers, patents and getting the products through the labyrinth
of health and safety hurdles—often 90 percent of the cost of GM, estimates
Thomas Lumpkin, head of maize breeding at Cimmyt. The battle over Frankenfoods
is sure to smolder on. But thanks to the breakthroughs of cutting-edge agricultural
science, traditional farming still has a brilliant future.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/204234
Source: NEWSWEEK, From the magazine issue dated Jul 13,
2009
1.15 The role
of genetically modified crops in
Dr. Daniel Mataruka of the African Agricultural Technology
Foundation (AATF) has written an original article for the Council
for Biotechnology Information blog on the role of ag biotech in
"During the past decade,
The Council for Biotechnology Information
communicates science-based information about the benefits and safety of agricultural
biotechnology and its contributions to sustainable development.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26800.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.16
Researchers at the University of Warwick have recovered
significant
The researchers, led by Dr Robin Allaby from the
The first surprise for the researchers was that throughout
that period every culture seemed to be growing a two rowed form of barley.
While natural wild barley tends to be two rowed most farmers prefer to grow
a much higher yield 6 row version which produces up to 3 times as many grains.
That 6 row version has grown for over 8000 years and that was certainly grown
in the lower
The plant scientists were pleased to find that the very
dry conditions at Qasr Ibrim meant that they were able to extract a great
deal of
Dr Robin Allaby said:
"The consistency of the two-row phenotype throughout
all the strata spanning three millennia indicates that the reason for the
reappearance of the two row form is more likely to be genetic, not environmental.
Consequently, the two-row condition has probably resulted from a gain of a
function mutation at another point in the plants
"There may have been a natural selection pressure
that strongly favoured the two-row condition. One such possible cause we are
currently investigating is water stress. Qasr Ibrim is located in the upper
Nile which is very arid relative to the lower Nile where six-row remains are
found, and studies have shown that two-row can survive water stress better
than six-row"
He concluded that:
"This finding has two important implications. Such
strong selection pressure is likely to have affected many genes in terms of
adaptation. Archaeogenetic study of the
The research paper entitled "Archaeogenetic Evidence
of Ancient Nubian Barley Evolution from Six to Two-Row Indicates Local Adaptation"
has just been published in PLoS One. The papers authors are:
by Dr Robin Allaby, Sarah A. Palmer and Jonathan D. Moore from the University
of Warwick
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26912.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.17
by Zoraida Portillo
Over the past few months, the Peruvian National Commission
Against Biopiracy has shown authorities from
It showed that the products lacked the innovation and
inventiveness required for patents.
"This is a good example of how coordinated action
between the state, the business sector and civil society can prevent inappropriately
granted patents related to genetic resources and traditional knowledge,"
Andrés Valladolid, technical coordinator at the commission, told SciDev.Net.
The products are derived from Lepidium meyenii, Plukenetia
volubilis Linneo and Myrciaria dubia — three plants well known among indigenous
Peruvian populations for their medicinal properties.
"I suspect a lot of developing countries will be
quite impressed by what
"Some will say that the refusal of the patents shows
how well the patent system can operate. Consequently, it is a matter of monitoring
the situation and gathering prior evidence to attack questionable patent applications,"
Dutfield adds.
"Others will say that since not every country is
going to make as much effort as Peru to challenge bad patent applications,
the lesson to be learned is that the patent system effectively promotes biopiracy
— and needs serious reform to avoid the misappropriation of traditional knowledge."
The commission monitors 69 Peruvian genetic resources
on databases at the world
But Michel Pimbert, director of the Sustainable Agriculture,
Biodiversity and Livelihoods programme at the International Institute for
Environment and Development, is sceptical about the likelihood of such rewards
as, he says, indigenous people
"It would be naive to think that national governments
would automatically share benefits with local communities when biopiracy is
prevented or compensation obtained," he says.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26891.htm
Source: SciDevNet via SeedQuest.com
1.18 Traditional
Thai hill farmers help preserve genetic diversity of rice
By Melissae Fellet
Rice is one of the most important crops worldwide, as
it feeds over half of the world
Research from Barbara A. Schaal, Ph.D., the Mary-Dell
Chilton Distinguished Professor of biology in Arts & Sciences at Washington
University in St. Louis, and her colleagues at Chiang
Mai University in Thailand shows how natural genetic drift and
agricultural practices of the traditional farmers combine to influence the
genetic diversity of a given landrace of rice.
Schaal is also involved in science policy, serving as
vice president of the National Academy of Sciences and recently appointed
to the President
Schaal and her colleagues studied a landrace of rice
grown by the Karen people in
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, is funded by the McKnight Foundation and the Thailand
Research Fund.
In the lowlands of
It
Many crops grown today have been genetically optimized
to consistently give a large yield. Seeds are purchased from a supplier and
the plants are all genetically similar.
"Most modern varieties of crops, like corn in the
The rice that the Karen people grow is genetically dynamic,
due to natural drift and the farmer
"My colleagues believe that those local varieties
bred within a village are better than any one single variety could be. Under
these circumstances, the farmers have it right," Schaal said.
Although most agriculture in the
"There is a movement among Native Americans in
Time will tell if those farmers "get it right"
too.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26999.htm
Source: Washington University via SeedQuest.com
1.19 New, highly contagious strains of potato virus Y in
The potato virus Y (PVY) is transmitted by several
species of aphids and causes significant losses in yield and quality. Numerous
new isolates of this virus have emerged in recent years in Swiss potato crops.
Experiments at Agroscope Changins-Waedenswil (ACW) show that the epidemiology
of the PVY strains and the sensitivity of potato varieties have changed completely.
The seed potatoes imported into
ACW investigated the spread of different PVY strains
under field conditions. The experiment showed that the variety Lady Christl
has surprisingly good resistance to different isolates of the virus. The new
strains are spreading faster and more effectively than the older strains of
PVY. This new situation calls for more consistency and attention from seed
potato producers. In the future, the sensitivity to these new PVY strains
should be taken into account when choosing varieties, and the most sensitive
varieties should be avoided.
communicated by ProMED-mail
Potato Virus Y_ (PVY; type member of genus _Potyvirus_)
is one of the most damaging potato viruses affecting crop yields and tuber
quality. PVY can also affect tomato, capsicum, and some other related species.
It is transmitted by aphid vectors in a non-persistent manner, with _Myzus
persicae_ being the most efficient vector. PVY can also be spread by mechanical
means, plant-to-plant contact, or with infected planting material such as
seed tubers. Disease management of PVY and other potato viruses relies largely
on clean planting material and use of resistant crop varieties, but reduction
of available virus reservoirs and vector numbers may also be useful.
The PVY isolates reported so far have been classified
in 3 main strains, PVY-N, PVY-O, and PVY-C, according to leaf symptoms induced
on the experimental host _Nicotiana tabacum_. PVY-N isolates have been divided
into 2 groups, one causing mild mosaic in most potato cultivars, while the
other induces "potato tuber necrotic ring disease" and severe chlorotic
mosaic of leaves. It is referred to as PVY-
PVY-O isolates induce severe symptoms on potato
leaves, such as crinkling, leaf drop, or severe necrotic mosaic. PVY-C isolates
causes stipple streak on potato cultivars carrying the Nc resistance gene.
Some isolates determined serologically as PVY-O and inducing less severe symptoms
in potato than the PVY-N isolates have been called PVY-N-Wilga isolates.
A build up of PVY due to farm-saved seed potatoes
has also been reported from the
Around 40 viruses have been reported to affect
potato, and since the crop is vegetatively propagated, many of them may be
disseminated in tubers. If virus-infected seed tubers are used, virus populations
and numbers of co-infecting species and strains will build up with every crop
cycle. This invariably leads to severely reduced plant vigour and a dramatic
drop in yield. Even more severe problems may result if viruses in infected
seed tubers are moved to a different area where they may combine with local
pathogen populations and/or encounter lack of host resistance, as suggested
above for
Maps of
<http://www.idsia.ch/wea2003/map_switzerland.gif>
and <http://healthmap.org/r/00v2>
Pictures PVY symptoms on potato:
<http://www.inra.fr/hyp3/images/6034404.jpg> (leaves),
<http://www.umext.maine.edu/images/PVY.jpg>
(leaves), <http://www.inra.fr/hyp3/images/6034401.jpg>
(plant), and <http://www.ascenion.de/fileadmin/ascenion/Technology_Offers/Agro_Technology/Plant_Virus_Resistance.jpg>
(tubers)
PVY symptoms on tomato leaf:
<http://www.avrdc.org/photos/tomato_diseases/PVY_01.jpg>
PVY particles, electron micrograph:
<http://www.ppi-bg.org/i/sn5.jpg>
Links
Information on _Potato virus Y_:
<http://www.inra.fr/hyp3/pathogene/6potviy.htm>,
<http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/CID/PLANT_HEALTH/profilepvy.shtml>
and Information on PVY and other potato viruses:
<http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2492.htm>
and <http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Virus_Potato.htm>
Review and diagnosis of PVY strains:
<http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/48>
PVY taxonomy and description:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/00.057.0.01.001.htm>
Agroscope potato research (in German):
<http://www.acw.admin.ch/themen/00568/02136/02173/index.html?lang=de>
. - Mod.
[see also in the archive:
Viruses & nematodes, potato -
2002
---Potato virus Y, necrotic strain -
1997
Potato viruses - Saudi Arabia 19970414.0796 Aphis
gossypii: new potato virus vector? -
ProMED-mail is a program of the International
Society for Infectious Diseases
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society
for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26757.htm
Source: Proplanta [in German, trans. & summ. Mod.DHA,
edited] via SeedQuest.com
1.20 New strain
of stem rust on wheat in
August 2009
Stem (black) rust, caused by _Puccinia graminis_ Pers.
f. sp. _tritici_ Eriks. & Henn., is one of the most destructive diseases
of wheat. It could be controlled through introgression of race-specific resistance
genes. However, such resistance is mostly short lived due to emergence of
new virulences. For example, resistance genes Sr11, Sr24, Sr30, and Sr31 are
no longer effective. Detection of new virulences has remained vital in the
evaluation and identification of new sources of resistance. We report here
the detection of virulence to Sr25, a gene from _Thinopyrum elongatum_, which
had been effective or partially effective against stem rust worldwide, including
race Ug99.
A stem rust isolate collected in 2006 from Karnataka
(southern
The new pathotype is avirulent to Sr11, 13, 14, 21, 22,
23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, and Tmp and virulent
to Sr5, 6, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 25, 28, 30, 34, 36, 42, Wld-1, and Gt. This pathotype has been designated
as 58G13-3 and PKTSC according to the Indian nomenclature and the North American
system, respectively. It represents race 40 based on Stakman
The detection of Sr25 virulence is significant since
Sr25 is an important gene to be targeted for breeding wheat cultivars resistant
to Ug99. We should use either adult plant resistance and/or combining two
or more genes for seedling resistance to enhance the field life of wheat cultivars.
Communicated by:ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
[Wheat stem rust is caused by the fungus _Puccinia graminis_
f. sp. _tritici_. Overall yield losses of up to 80 percent are reported, but
some fields are totally destroyed. New races are emerging, and the most dangerous
at present is strain Ug99, which has overcome the
Rust spores are carried eastwards on prevailing winds,
and regions at high risk of a Ug99 incursion were identified accordingly in
the
Maps
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/images/IndiaMap_tourism.gif
and
<http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.htm>
Pictures of stem rust symptoms on wheat:
<http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/2005/sept/images/stem2.jpg>
and <http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/diseases/images/fac15s01.jpg>
Links
Recent news stories on worldwide Ug99 resistance breeding:
<http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/07/11/edmonton-government-funding-wheat-fungus.html>,
<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-wheat-rust14-2009jun14,0,1661589.story>
and
<http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/599222/-/rggp9oz/-/>
Information on wheat stem rust:
<http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=9910>
Information on Ug99:
<http://www.cimmyt.cgiar.org/gis/pdf/UG99postH.pdf>,
<http://www.pestalert.org/viewNewsAlert.cfm?naid=36>,
<http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=14649>
and <http://www.agbioworld.org/newsletter_wm/index.php?caseid=archive&newsid=2686>
_P.
graminis_ f.sp. _tritici_ taxonomy:
<http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=455607>
<http://www.icar.org.in/news/DELHI-DECLARATION-ON-WHEAT-STEM-RUST-UG99.htm>
Global Rust Initiative:
Background on differential hosts for pathotype identification:
<http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=10348>.
- Mod.
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26882.htm
ProMED-mail is a program of the International
Society for Infectious Diseases
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society
for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
Source:
<http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-93-8-0840B>
[Ref: Emergence of virulence to Sr25 of _Puccinia
graminis_ f. sp. _tritici_ on wheat in
SK Jain et al
Plant Dis 2009; 93(8), 840; DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-93-8-0840B]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Plant Disease [edited] via SeedQuest.com
1.21 Gene developed
through conventional breeding to improve cowpea aphid resistance
The cowpea or black-eyed pea, as it is more commonly
known, is a New Year’s tradition for good luck. But disease and particularly
aphids, which can wreck a crop within a few a days, are especially bad luck
for the cowpea, according to scientists. Several new lines of cowpeas with
genes that are aphid-resistant and less susceptible to disease are currently
being tested by researchers with Texas AgriLife Research and other
Texas A&M System entities.
“The cowpea has been an important and popular food crop
throughout the southern
The researchers’ discoveries could yield big rewards.
An international food crop, the cowpea was most popular in the southern
And during times of drought, the cowpea can be a viable
alternative forage crop for livestock producers, due to its ability to fix
nitrogen, tolerate drought and provide high-quality fodder, Singh said. It
is a high-quality forage for cattle producers, with a protein content as high
as 28 percent in seeds and 17 percent to 20 percent in the fodder after harvesting
the seeds.
However, the aphid is currently the biggest threat to
cowpea producers, Singh said.
“(Aphids) like dry weather,” explained Singh, who has
spent his entire career studying the cowpea. “Immediately after infestation,
they start sucking the juice (sap) from cowpea leaves, stem, flowers and pods
of the plants reducing their growth and development and causing severe reduction
in yield. They also spread viruses. Aphids can ruin a crop within a few days.”
Singh, came to the department as a visiting professor
following his retirement two years ago from the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture, considered the epicenter of cowpea research.
At Texas A&M, Singh is working with colleagues Dr.
J. Creighton Miller, D.C. Sheuring and Dr. Bill Payne using field trials in
Singh has brought more than 35 lines of cowpeas with
drought and aphid tolerance, as well as resistance to other diseases and higher
yield potential, to
“Many of the IITA lines are resistant to aphid, bacterial
blight, powdery mildew and drought, whereas most of the
In mid July, an aphid infestation hit the
“It’s been fairly severe, permitting selection of resistant
plants from the F2 and F3 populations,” he said. “Due to drought and aphids
this crop season, all of the susceptible cowpea varieties and segregating
plants have been completely damaged, showing 80 percent to 100 percent yield
loss, while the aphid resistant varieties and segregating plants are completely
healthy with normal yield. The resistance is simply inherited, very effective
and highly stable across environments.”
From the segregating populations, the resistant plants
with diverse maturity dates, plant type, growth habits and seed types have
been selected to meet the need for grain type, fodder-type and pasture-type
cowpea varieties, he said.
“These are being advanced to achieve uniformity and multi-location
testing for stability of resistance and yield potential," Singh added.
The new aphid-resistant, high-yielding varieties could be available to farmers
as early as 2011, Singh said.
"The cowpea has worldwide importance as a crop for
both human and animal nutrition," said Payne of Texas AgriLife Research,
assistant director for research at the Norman Borlaug Institute for International
Agriculture. "Introducing improved disease- and drought-resistant and
higher-yield varieties could not only have tremendous potential for
According to the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture in
The international Food and Agriculture Organization estimates
more than 7.5 million tons of cowpeas are produced annually worldwide, with
sub-Saharan
“We are already involved in international research projects
in
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26990.htm
Source: SeedQuest.com
1.22 Scientists develop rust-proof soybean for
Good news for soybean farmers in West and
The new variety, named TGx 1835-10E, is also high-yielding,
averaging 1655 kg/ha grain and 2210 kg/ha fodder. TGx 1835-10E was released
for cultivation in
Read the original story at
http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_feature_details.aspx?articleid=2517&zoneid=342
From Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding &
1.23 ARS releases corky root-resistant lettuce
lines
The US Department of Agriculture
The corky root-resistant lettuce lines, developed by
ARS scientist Beiquan Mou, also showed
little to no tipburn in test trials. Tipburn is caused by calcium deficiency
in young, growing leaves. This defect severely limits the appearance and shelflife
of lettuce, especially if the lettuce is to be used for salad mixes as there
is zero tolerance for defects.
For more information, read
<http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090707.htm>http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090707.htm
From Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding &
1.24 Canadian researchers working to develop super
lycopene tomato
Healthier tomato sauce and ketchup may soon hit supermarket
shelves in
"Boosting the nutritional value is the focus now
for the tomato processing industry, and consumers will be reaping the benefits,"
said Steven Loewen, leader of the study. Loewen and colleagues have identified
genes that could give tomatoes up to a 200-percent boost in lycopene. These
genes can also increase the levels of beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A.
But researchers are finding that increasing the levels
of the anti-oxidant in tomato is much more difficult than it sounds. The high-lycopene
genes diminish seed germination, plant development and yield. So Loewen and
colleagues are aiming for the "super lycopene" plant varieties to
have superior traits all around that will produce the best functional properties
without sacrificing growth and overall crop yield. They are also looking for
ways to develop early maturing and rot-resistant tomato varieties.
Read the complete story at
<http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/2009/07/eeee.html>http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/2009/07/eeee.html
From Crop Biotech Update
Contributed by Margaret E. Smith
Dept. of Plant Breeding &
1.25 Double
chromosomes equals more plant power
By Karin Kloosterman
Biofuels
are alternative energy fuels produced from living organisms or metabolic byproducts
(organic or food waste products). If we could just find a more efficient way
to unlock their energy, and to minimize the amount of land and water resources
needed to grow them, they could replace the polluting and limited reserves
of fossil fuels currently in use.
Now Kaiima Bio-Agritech of
"The oil is going to end," Ariel Krolzig (photo),
product manager of Kaiima, tells ISRAEL21c. "It
Sporting a sage-like beard, Krolzig is standing beside
the star of his likely success story, a castor oil plant. He proceeds to describe
the method developed by Kaiima that doubles a plant
This doubling results in higher cell activity, increased
photosynthesis and better adaptation to local conditions in the field. Most
importantly, it more than doubles the plant
Castor oil could save the day
Companies around the world are now field testing Kaiima
The chromosome doubling that Kaiima can now induce may
occur naturally in nature. When it does, the plants with four chromosomes
typically show advantages over those with just two sets in each nucleus.
For some time now, plant breeders and scientists have
been trying to encourage this doubling or "polyploidy" in certain
plants with high economic value, using artificial methods including colchicine
treatment, nitrous oxide treatment and temperature shock.
However, these methods have caused damage to the plants
Kaiima believes that its new castor oil plants (sold
as seeds) will revolutionize the biofuel industry. By using its
Great potential, no drawbacks
And an added benefit, which should mollify the sizable
resistance to organisms that are altered in any way: "It
Explaining why the research was conducted on castor plants,
Krolzig says that the castor plant, grown mainly in
A non-edible crop, castor can be grown on poor quality
land that isn
Until now, the problem with castor oil has been that
it is very expensive to produce, relative to its yields. Previously, the highest
yield of oily beans from castor has been about 1.5 to 1.6 tons of beans per
hectare, half of which is oil - about 750 kilograms.
"We have varieties that yield five to10 tons of
seeds per hectare. At this yield, castor starts to be profitable as a biofuel,"
Krolzig declares.
Before closing any big deals, prospective clients are
testing Kaiima
Mitigating the dangers of global warming
Food crops that have undergone Kaiima
In addition, Kaiima says that its plant varieties may
even mitigate the dangers of global warming. Plants that undergo
Kaiima was founded in 2002, by Amit Avidov, an agronomist
with 30 years experience in seed breeding. (The company was originally named
Bio Fuel, but changed its name in 2006.) Prior to this, he worked for Morning
Seeds and Top Seeds, and was chief breeder at De Ruiter Seeds, a Dutch seed
company later sold to Monsanto.
At present, Kaiima is involved in projects to multiply
the genomes and increase the yield of other plants for fuel and food. They
are working with jatropha, rapeseed (canola), rice, wheat, sugarcane and eucalyptus.
Based in Ramat Yishai, Kaiima employs between 60 and
80 people and all its operations are in
Krolzig sums up the company raison d
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2009/july/26974.htm
Source: Israel Ministry of Foreign
Affairs via SeedQuest.com
1.26 Can these
"amber waves of grain" become perennials?
Every time a farmer plants a cash crop, he or she makes
a substantial investment of money, time and labor resources. But what if that
crop wasn’t something that had to be planted every year, but instead, sprouted
out of the ground each spring and was ready for a summer harvest?
Michigan State University (MSU) associate professor of crop
and soil sciences at the Kellogg Biological Station, Sieg Snapp, is addressing
that question. Her team is studying the possibilities for developing perennial
wheat as a crop for environmentally friendly agricultural production. She’s
conducting this work thanks to a four-year, one million dollar U.S. Department
of Agriculture organic research grant.
Snapp is leading a team that includes MSU professor of
agriculture, food and resource economics, Scott Swinton; MSU outreach specialist,
Vicki Morrone; MSU wheat breeder, Janet Lewis;
“Washington and Kansas have conducted innovative plant
breeding, crossing intermediate wheat grass forage to annual wheat to get
the annual wheat grain characteristics and a close to marketable product,”
Snapp says. “I realized that nobody was focusing on agronomic management,
and practical aspects of variety development, so my student, Brook Wilke,
started about three years ago to evaluate varieties suitable for
“We’re going to be investigating them for their adaptation
to
The research team will study the wheat over three to
four cropping seasons so they can observe its hardiness under different weather
conditions and extremes in temperature and precipitation. The perennial wheat
isn’t just a money-saving crop --it also protects the environment -- helping
to keep the soil in place and capture rain and snow.
“It’s always growing and keeps roots in the soil to prevent
erosion,” Snapp points out. “We’ve already found that the roots of the perennial
wheat can reach three-times deeper than annual wheat roots and this is promising
for a crop that could capture carbon.”
The perennial wheat may save farmers money at planting,
produce enough yield to allow them to realize a profit, provide a secondary
income source and protect the environment, but it also has to fit in on the
typical
In a year or two, the researchers will produce enough
seed at KBS to provide farmer experimentation opportunities. Snapp plans to
include growers who can help test the wheat under different conditions on
farms of varying sizes around the state.
“We’ll also look at some of the economics and how it does as a single and dual crop,” she says. “That’s where the agricultural economist will come in and look at profitability of the d
