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First GM crop in Indonesia soon to be commercialized

The Government of Indonesia has approved the first genetically modified crop which will soon be commercialized in the country. The biotech sugarcane event NXI-4T which contains betaine gene was developed by the state-owned sugar company, PT Perkebunan Nusantara XI (PTPN XI). The gene expressed osmoprotectant compound which was introduced using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated plant transformation.  The GM… Continue reading First GM crop in Indonesia soon to be commercialized

What ancient maize can tell us about thousands of years of civilization in America

Movie archaeologists are often pictured triumphantly extracting precious objects from the earth, instantly solving long-standing mysteries. Think of Indiana Jones’ Cross of Coronado, Staff of Ra and Ark of the Covenant. Real archaeologists mostly find small, almost valueless objects—and won’t know for years, or decades, what mystery they are resolving. Consider this ancient ear of… Continue reading What ancient maize can tell us about thousands of years of civilization in America

Gene network lets plant roots handle nitrogen

UC Davis plant biologist Siobhan Brady examining roots of tomato plants in her lab. Brady’s team and colleagues at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered the network of genes that allow plant roots to take up and process nitrogen. The information could help in breeding new crop varieties. (David Slipher/UC Davis) With robotics, computers… Continue reading Gene network lets plant roots handle nitrogen

China reaping harvest of agricultural R&D

China is transforming its traditional agriculture sector, using science and technology to drive rural revitalization and modernization. Delivering a report on the development of China’s agricultural science and technology recently, Tang Huajun, president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), said remarkable progress has been made in innovation, which has played an important role… Continue reading China reaping harvest of agricultural R&D

Loss of a microRNA molecule boosts rice production

The wild rice consumed by our Neolithic ancestors was very different from the domesticated rice eaten today. Although it is unclear when humans first started farming rice, the oldest paddy fields—in the lower Yangzi River Valley—date back to 4000 BC. During its long history of cultivation, rice plants with traits that reduce yield or impede… Continue reading Loss of a microRNA molecule boosts rice production

Grass genes tapped to breed better crops

A diverse array of Andropogoneae tribe grasses grown in a greenhouse at the Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Researchers from Cornell and the United States Department of Agriculture will tap into genetic information found in more than 700 species of related grasses, in hopes of making maize and sorghum more productive… Continue reading Grass genes tapped to breed better crops

University of Florida/IFAS-led study may lead to more heat-tolerant rice

Rice, the most widely consumed food crop in the world, takes a beating in hot weather. To combat the high temperatures, a global group of scientists, led by a University of Florida researcher, has found the genetic basis to breed a more heat-tolerant rice cultivar. “The productivity of rice, one of the three major cereal… Continue reading University of Florida/IFAS-led study may lead to more heat-tolerant rice

New GM canola varieties on way

New genetically modified canola varieties could be commercially available in Australia by March next year, just shy of a decade since Roundup Ready was first grown in Western Australia (WA) in 2010. TruFlex technology has been designed to eventually phase out Bayer’s Roundup Ready counterpart, which Bayer Crop Science regional business manager Hugh Trenorden said… Continue reading New GM canola varieties on way

The biggest hurdle genetically engineered food faces isn’t science—it’s us

Today, virtually everything we eat is produced from seeds that have been genetically altered in some manner. If we’re going to feed the growing population without further destroying the environment, then we’re going to have to get comfortable with the idea of eating modified crops. By the year 2100, the Earth’s population is expected to… Continue reading The biggest hurdle genetically engineered food faces isn’t science—it’s us

Scientists find genomic segments that decide zinc density in wheat

Scientists have identified regions in the wheat genome responsible for concentration of zinc in wheat grain. They have also identified candidate genes involved in zinc concentration in wheat. The findings can potentially help in developing wheat varieties with enhanced levels of the micronutrient, scientists said. Researchers have found 39 new molecular markers and two genome… Continue reading Scientists find genomic segments that decide zinc density in wheat