Insects develop resistance to engineered crops
Genetically modified crops containing two insecticidal proteins in a single plant efficiently kill insects. But when crops engineered with just one of those toxins grow nearby, insects may more rapidly develop resistance to all the insect-killing plants, report Cornell University researchers. A soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), whose genes are inserted into crop plants, su...Ethanol and biodiesel from crops not worth the energy
Turning plants such as corn, soybeans and sunflowers into fuel uses much more energy than the resulting ethanol or biodiesel generates, according to a new Cornell University and University of California-Berkeley study. "There is just no energy benefit to using plant biomass for liquid fuel," says David Pimentel, professor of ecology and agriculture at Cornell. "These strategies are not su...Plant genes identified that can form basis for crops better adapted to environmental conditions
Roots are crucial for the development of strong, healthy crops. But until recently, exactly which genes are involved in the development of roots was still a mystery. Scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to Ghent University have now analyzed a complete plant genome in order to identify the genes that are essential for the formation of capillary r...Genetic defenders protect crops from fungal disease
Like waves of soldiers guarding a castle gate, multiple genetic defenders cooperate to protect plant cells against powdery mildew disease, according to a new study. Powdery mildew is a common fungal infection in plants that attacks more than 9,000 species, including many crops such as barley and wheat, and horticultural plants such as roses and cucumbers. The researchers, including Shauna Somervi...DNA technique measures suitability of soil for onion crops
Nematodes, such as the stem nematode, and fungi, such as white rot, are particularly harmful for onion crops in the Netherlands: they cause rot. Soil samples are investigated to detect this; a labour-intensive and expensive operation. Together with the Laboratory for Nematology (University of Wageningen) the company Blgg has developed a molecular technique to detect the stem nematode and white ro...Clinton says world needs biofuels, GM crops, and more answers
He called on the industry to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, guard against pandemics, create crops that can feed more of the world's hungry, tap sources of renewable energy such as ethanol, and confront glob...Biotech crops gaining acceptance, but their full promise has yet to be fulfilled
...Fight anemia by fortifying crops with iron!!!!!!!!
In a path breaking idea researchers at the just concluded Indian science congress in New Delhi have called for a collaborative effort with agricultural scientists to combat anemia with iron fortification of crops. Almost 50% of women and 75% children under 3 years of age are anemic in India. While iron supplementation is expensive, fortification of plants with iron and using it in turn to...Producing Vaccines from genetically modified crops
The consortium, called Pharma-Planta, wants to produce vaccines and other treatments for major //diseases, such as HIV/Aids, rabies and TB and they hope to start clinical trials by the year 2009. The project's aim is to focus on areas that will be of greatest benefit to developing nations where they feel that access to most vaccines is very poor at the same time keeping in mind that human...Herbal Twist: Plausible Cure for Diabetes 'Crops' Up
We have always gone back to nature and tapped its endless resources for cures to many nagging ailments. With the world stepping into the 'herbal' mode, not surprising that// scientists have drawn upon the medicinal character of a crop that has been in circulation for thousands of years and may even assist in the management of blood sugar levels in patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes....Organic Crops Contain Higher Levels of Nutrients: Study
Organic crops contain higher levels of important nutrients, which are said to protect the body against heart attack and cancer causing chemicals, scientists found.// Kirsten Brandt and other researchers found organic tomatoes, apples and peaches had greater concentrations of vitamin C, polyphenols, betacarotene and flavonoids, according to the Daily Mail. They were lower, however, in...Climate Change Threatening to Wipe Out Wild Relatives of Key Crops
Climate change is threatening to completely wipe out wild relatives of plants such as potato and peanut, according to a new study released by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). According to the study, in the next 50 years as many as 61 percent of the 51 wild peanut species analyzed and 12 percent of the 108 wild potato species analyzed could beco...