[For further information on the Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see the Forum website.
Note, participants are assumed to be speaking on their own behalf, unless they state otherwise.]

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod2
Sent: 21 March 2007 09:32
To: 'biotech-room2@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: 42: Transgenic and microorganisms - Abiotic stress

I am Dr. B. Venkateswarlu, Head of the Crop Sciences Division at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) which is a national level research institute under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). We have the following two major ongoing programmes on the subject.

1. Production of transgenics for enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses: In this area, our approach is to introduce genes responsible for osmotic adjustment, produce transgenics and evaluate the plants for physiological characters and eventually field test them. Currently, we have successfully produced sorghum plants up to T2 generation with 3 genes independently. The transgenics have remarkable tolerance to both drought and salinity stresses with improved root growth and other traits related to water relations. We have also initiated similar work on blackgram (Vigna mungo) and greengram (Vigna radiata).

2. Use of microorganisms in abiotic stress management: We are also isolating rhizosphere microorganisms which have a capacity to improve the soil aggregation when inoculated in the root zone. We found this a cost effective means of managing low to moderate levels of stress in millets. These organisms form biofilm around the roots and significantly influence the water relations of the plants when subjected to water stress.

Any thoughts on the above areas are welcome.

Dr. B. Venkateswarlu,
Head and Principal Scientist
Division of Crop Sciences
Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA)
Santoshnagar, Saidabad P.O.
Hyderabad - 500 059
A.P.
India
Telefax +91-40-24535336
e-mail: vbandi (at) crida.ernet.in vbandi_1953 (at) yahoo.com

[T0, T1 and T2 refer to successive generations of plants following a transformation event. The parent transformed plant is T0, its immediate progeny is T1, and the progeny of the T1 are T2 plants etc. (source, FAO Biotechnology Glossary, http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp) ...Moderator].

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod2
Sent: 21 March 2007 10:40
To: 'biotech-room2@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: 43: Addressing questions in the background document

I am Dr. Mojisola Edema, a microbiologist from Nigeria. I thank the FAO for organizing this e-mail conference on "Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: What role for agricultural biotechnologies?". It is very timely and as with the previous conferences, very informative. FAO keep up the good work! I wish to contribute to this conference by addressing some of the questions in Section 6 of the background document.

1. "How important is improving the efficiency of water use in crops through biotechnology in developing countries?":
It is very important as it will make more water available for other purposes such as domestic and industrial uses.

2. "Which biotechnology tools have greatest potential for improving the efficiency of water use in crops in developing countries?":
It is imperative to harness all existing biotechnological tools for improving the efficiency of water use in crops in developing countries as a strategy for coping with water scarcity. The developing world is growing at a rate that does not permit waiting until we get the more advanced biotechnological tools. So both traditional and modern biotechnological tools must be put together.

3. "How important are biotechnology tools compared to conventional breeding for improving the efficiency of water use in crops in developing countries?":
Very important and crucial I would say. I strongly believe that biotechnology holds the greatest potential for improving the efficiency of water use in crops in developing countries. I guess that we as scientists, all agree that biotechnology will achieve the same objectives in a shorter time and more efficiently than conventional breeding.

4. "Research on water use in crops has focused on a few species of major economic importance while so-called orphan crops, of local or regional importance for nutrition and income in poor regions, have been neglected, despite their importance for food security. How can this situation be changed?":
I think the application of biotechnological tools in agriculture should be a gradual process and it is not wise to apply it to many crops at once. Considering the factors (financial, socio-cultural, ethical etc) and input required for biotechnology research, it is only reasonable to go one step at a time. The species referred to as major economic crops have become so through conventional breeding research techniques over a long period of time and as such application of biotechnology to these crops is relatively easy. There is a dearth of information on many so-called orphan crops, neither has any research been conducted on some of them.

5. "What role and relevance do biotechnologies currently have in wastewater treatment in developing countries? And in the future?":
Biotechnology is playing and will play the role of efficient management of water resources in general and wastewater treatment in particular.

6. "Is the rapidly-accumulating molecular information on micro-organisms involved in wastewater treatment processes likely to result in the better design and operation of wastewater plants in developing countries?":
Definitely, yes!

7. "What role do biotechnologies have for the removal of heavy metals, such as arsenic, from irrigation water in developing countries?":
A key role. In fact there are many organisms that are able to degrade toxic materials and the application of biotechnology to improve their efficiencies holds a very promising future for water resources management and agricultural biotechnology.

8. "How important is application of mycorrhizal fungi as a biofertiliser in helping developing countries to cope with water scarcity?":
Hypothetically, very important but I believe a lot more still needs to be done to confirm and prove this beyond reasonable doubt. I know a few scientists who have done some work in this regard, but some of the findings seem to show that mycorrhizal fungi alone is not as efficient as believed, but that in combination with other factors and techniques, it will be very good.

M.O. Edema, PhD
Department of Microbiology,
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
PMB 2240, 11001,
Nigeria.
http://www.unaab.edu.ng
Tel: 234-39-245291-2(Office)
Tel:234-8037119671(Mobile),234-39-773252
moedemao (at) yahoo.co.uk