Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain最新文献

In light of the fact that climate change has emerged as one of the difficulties confronting the global food system, researchers are obligated to work toward developing fundamental crops, particularly wheat, to combat environmental stress, including drought and salt. In the present study, genetic engineering was used to transfer the Arabidopsis MDAR1 gene, which controls the buildup of ascorbic acid (AsA) to make bread wheat less likely to be sensitive to salt stress. The biolistic bombardment was used to transfer cDNA from the Arabidopsis thaliana plant that encodes MDAR1 into Bobwhite 56 cultivar wheat plants. A molecular investigation was performed on six different transgenic lines to confirm the integration of the transgene, the copy number, and the expression of the transgene. There were one to three copies of the transgene, and there was no association found between the number of copies of the transgene and All the data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].the presence of its expression. Compared to plants that were not transgenic, the amount of ascorbic acid (AsA) that accumulated in the transgenic plants was twice as high. ROS concentrations are significantly lower in transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic plants under both control and salt stress conditions, effectively reducing oxidative stress. By cultivating transgenic T2 plants in a greenhouse, we were able to determine whether they were able to tolerate the potentially damaging effects of salt stress (200 mm). The study concluded that transgenic wheat plants that consistently expressed the MDAR1 gene become tolerant to salt stress with improvement in growth characteristics.

Rhizosphere bacterial community studies offer valuable insights into the environmental implications of genetically modified (GM) crops. This study compared the effects of a non-GM maize cultivar, namely Hi-IIA, with those of a herbicide-resistant maize cultivar containing the phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase gene on the rhizosphere bacterial community across growth stages. 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing and data analysis tools revealed no significant differences in bacterial community composition or diversity between the cultivars. Principal component analysis revealed that differences in community structure were driven by plant growth stages rather than plant type. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was conducted to examine the potential horizontal transfer of the introduced gene from the GM maize to rhizosphere microorganisms; however, the introduced gene was not detected in the soil genomic DNA. Overall, the environmental impact of GM maize, particularly on soil microorganisms, is negligible, and the cultivation of GM maize does not alter significantly the rhizosphere bacterial community.

As a longstanding and indispensable part of developing countries, small farmers face challenges brought by the dissemination of GM technology. Despite governments' efforts to promote collective cultivation of GM crops through top-down policies aimed at enhancing small farmers' production efficiency and market competitiveness, actual participation rates among small farmers in many developing countries remain low. This reflects a gap and mismatch between policy design and the actual needs of small farmers. Based on a survey and empirical analysis of 964 small farmers in Guangdong and Xinjiang, China, this study finds that small farmers' acceptance of GM technology is influenced not only by expected profitability but also by factors such as their independence and risk assessment of the technology. The findings reveal that, first, small farmers' expected profitability from GM technology and their perception of independent market adaptability positively influence their willingness to participate in collective GM crop farming. Independent market adaptability acts as a partial mediator in this relationship and is moderated by small farmers' risk assessments of GM technology. Variables such as gender, age, education level, and farming experience do not show significant effects. This study enriches the theoretical frameworks related to technology acceptance, innovation and diffusion, livelihood strategies, and collective transformation among small farmers in developing countries. It provides scientific evidence for policymakers to design more effective and aligned policies concerning GM crops.

GM Jatropha X8#34 was placed for transgene flow assessment in the open field trial on Semakau Island, Singapore, between 2015 and 2017 to evaluate the potential gene flow to its non-GM counterparts and related species. The trial featured the GM Jatropha event X8#34, which is characterized by high oleic acid content, marker-free, and a homozygous transgene. The study focused on cross-pollination from the GM event to non-GM plants, analyzing factors such as distance, wind and insects mediated transfer, using event-specific multiplex PCR analysis of F1 seeds. Pollen dispersal by wind was also assessed to understand the extent of distance traveled and pollen load. Our results showed the maximum observed transgene flow was 4.5%, occurring in non-GM plants located 2 meters in third quarter of 2016, average for four quarters is 2.57%. However, as the distance increased, the transgene flow decreased significantly, at 4 meters distance observed 0.8% in fourth quarter and an average 0.25%. Transgene flow was not observed beyond 4 meters. These results are consistent with the exponential decrease in Jatropha pollen dispersed and captured by traps over distance, with no pollen detected beyond 6 meters through wind dispersal. Furthermore, no intrageneric transgene flow was detected from GM Jatropha to Jatropha integerrima, nor intergeneric transgene flow to related weedy species such as Euphorbia hirta, Phyllanthus niruri, or Ricinus communis (Castor bean), under open-field conditions (2015-2017). The findings suggest that Jatropha pollination is primarily facilitated by short-distance foraging insects, or overlapping branches between adjacent trees enhances cross-pollination rate due to denser floral display, and attracts more pollinators. An adequate separation distance (>8 meters) is sufficient to prevent unintended transgene flow from GM Jatropha to non-GM Jatropha in Singapore ecological conditions. Additionally, transgene flow between GM Jatropha and related horticultural shrub (Jatropha integerrima) or intergeneric relatives like E. hirta, P. niruri, and castor bean is unlikely under open field conditions.

Innovation is of fundamental importance for improving food production, as well as sustainability food production. Since 1960, food production has benefited from innovations in plant breeding technologies, fertilizer, chemicals and equipment. These innovations have dramatically increased food production, while the amount of land used has minimally increased. However, future food production increases are jeopardized from widening knowledge gaps between rural food producers and large urban food consuming populations. Over time, that gap has fueled disinformation. The development of disinformation business models contributes to urban consumers receiving inaccurate information about the importance of inputs essential to food production, resulting in political pressures being applied that are targeted at reductions in the use of many food production inputs. The use of chemicals are a frequent target of disinformation campaigns. This article examines how the lack of government clarity about the safe use of chemicals contributes to a lack of public information.

Labels are influential signals in the marketplace intended to inform and to eliminate buyer confusion. Despite this, food labels continue to be the subject of debate. None more so than non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) labels. This manuscript provides a timeline of the evolution of GMO labels beginning with the early history of the anti-GMO movement to the current National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard in the United States. Using media and market intelligence data collected through Buzzsumo™ and Mintel™, public discourse of GMOs is analyzed in relation to sociopolitical events and the number of new food products with anti-GMO labels, respectively. Policy document and publication data is collected with Overton™ to illustrate the policy landscape for the GMO topic and how it has changed over time. Analysis of the collective data illustrates that while social media and policy engagement around the topic of GMOs has diminished over time, the number of new products with a GMO-free designation continues to grow. While discourse peaked at one point, and has since declined, our results suggest that the legacy of an anti-GMO narrative remains firmly embedded in the social psyche, evidenced by the continuing rise of products with GMO-free designation. Campaigns for GMO food labels to satisfy consumers' right to know were successful and the perceived need for this information now appears to be self-sustaining.

The agricultural sugarcane residues, bagasse and straws, can be used for second-generation ethanol (2GE) production by the cellulose conversion into glucose (saccharification). However, the lignin content negatively impacts the saccharification process. This polymer is mainly composed of guaiacyl (G), hydroxyphenyl (H), and syringyl (S) units, the latter formed in the ferulate 5-hydroxylase (F5H) branch of the lignin biosynthesis pathway. We have generated transgenic lines overexpressing ShF5H1 under the control of the C4H (cinnamate 4-hydroxylase) rice promoter, which led to a significant increase of up to 160% in the S/G ratio and 63% in the saccharification efficiency in leaves. Nevertheless, the content of lignin was unchanged in this organ. In culms, neither the S/G ratio nor sucrose accumulation was altered, suggesting that ShF5H1 overexpression would not affect first-generation ethanol production. Interestingly, the bagasse showed a significantly higher fiber content. Our results indicate that the tissue-specific manipulation of the biosynthetic branch leading to S unit formation is industrially advantageous and has established a foundation for further studies aiming at refining lignin modifications. Thus, the ShF5H1 overexpression in sugarcane emerges as an efficient strategy to improve 2GE production from straw.

We provide guidance on how to incorporate best practices around gender integration in the development of genetically improved crops by adapting a gender integration framework for conventional crop breeding to the GM product development pipeline, which places greater emphasis on the discovery and launch phases because the technical nature of the development process means fewer opportunities for farmer engagement or pivoting possibilities between these two ends of the product development spectrum. For crop innovation to be relevant to both women and men producers, during the discovery phase, developers can conduct baseline gender analysis consisting of gender-disaggregated value chain analysis, systematic learning about gender-specific crop trait preferences, and identification of varietal preferences by women and men along the value chain. The latter opportunity in the GM product development pathway for intentional gender integration is deployment, including pre-launch activities such as field demonstrations and consumer testing. We also describe ex ante and ex post gender impact assessment methods. We conclude with a number of gender integration recommendations for GM product developers: improving gender data collection and analysis to inform crop innovation efforts, investing in staffing and training of scientific teams to enhance gender expertise, and increasing accountability of product development teams with gender-intentional monitoring and evaluation systems.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop in the world. Flowering period and photoperiod play important roles in the reproductive development of maize. This study, investigated ZmMADS42, a gene that is highly expressed in the shoot apical meristem. Agrobacterium infection was used to successfully obtain overexpressed ZmMADS42 plants. Fluorescence quantitative PCR revealed that the expression of the ZmMADS42 gene in the shoot apical meristem of transgenic plants was 2.8 times higher than that of the wild-type(WT). In addition, the expression of the ZmMADS42 gene in the endosperm was 2.4 times higher than that in the wild-type. The seed width of the T2 generation increased by 5.35%, whereas the seed length decreased by 7.78% compared with that of the wild-type. Dissection of the shoot tips of transgenic and wild-type plants from the 7-leaf stage to the 9-leaf stage revealed that the transgenic plants entered the differentiation stage earlier and exhibited more tassel meristems during their vegetative growth period. The mature transgenic plants were approximately 20 cm shorter in height and had a lower panicle position than the wild-type plants. Comparing the flowering period, the tasseling, powdering, and silking stages of the transgenic plants occurred 10 days earlier than those of the wild-type plants. The results showed that the ZmMADS42 gene played a significant role in regulating the flowering period and plant height of maize.