Pipeline to produce genetically modified papaya, rice, abaca

Amid global developments in the use of biotechnology in crops, the development of genetically engineered papaya, rice, eggplant, and abaca will soon add to the current commercialized use of genetically modified corn. National Academy of Science and Technology president Dr. Emil Q. Javier said that some of the biotechnology projects in the pipeline include the development of a delayed-ripening papaya, ringspot virus-resistant papaya, GMO rice, the infusion of Bt genes in eggplant and the development of disease-resistant abaca. Dr. Randy Hautea of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) said that genetically altered papaya may be commercially produced in about three years. He said GMO papaya is ready for field trials. Required field testings will take at least one year to ensure the product is safe for consumption. Mr. Javier said infusion of delayed-ripening genes in papaya aims to extend the shelf life of the fruit. Ringspot virus, on the other hand, is a disease that had ravaged Hawaii's papaya farms, he explained. The Philippines, said Mr. Javier, has started transferring the technology that Hawaii used to fix its ringspot virus problem since 1997. Three genetically altered traits for rice are also in the offing, said Mr. Javier. Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is in the process of developing insect-resistant rice, bacterial blight disease-resistant rice, and so-called "golden" rice or the vitamin-enriched rice. Amid meager funding for rice research in the country, PhilRice director Leo S. Sebastian had said in an earlier interview that the government is looking at commercial production of GMO rice in about five years. Mr. Javier also said breeders from the University of the Philippines Los Banos and the Fiber Industry Development Authority are trying to infuse genes that make abaca resistant to the "mosaic" and "bunchy top" disease. "This disease is really affecting the abaca industry and the solution lies in the infusion of disease-resistant genes," said Mr. Javier. ISAAA's annual review in 2005 of the global status of commercialized biotech crops shows that the area used for biotech crops in the Philippines reached 65,000 hectares in 2005, or a 40% increase from 2004. Worldwide, such area has reached 90 million hectares, increasing 11% from 2004. "Source":[ http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=12023&start=1&control=142&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1]

---

Related articles

Scientists find rice gene for grain size and yield - Chinese scientists have identified and cloned a rice gene that influences rice grain weight and yield, which could help scientists develop higher yielding varieties of the world's most important food crop (13.4.2007)

GM techniques turn a plant parasite into a potential saviour of rice producers - Beautiful and much loved shrubs and trees afflicted with the disease produce swellings, or galls, along the length of the branches and roots and often die (17.8.2006)