On 26/11/2002, Paul Williams posted:
Potentially good news for much
of the world's population. (I especially like the "public domain" final comment.)
Regards Paul
"A new genetically engineered variety of rice, which can grow in all types
of conditions, has been developed by scientists in the United States and
Korea." .... "The technology will be placed in the public domain, rather
than being sold to a commercial seed company, so that improved crop varieties
can be grown in areas of the world where soil and weather conditions make
it difficult to farm rice."
>From BBC Science/Nature GM Rice Can Tough It Out.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2512195.stm
"...The researchers added sugar genes from a bacterium to create their improved plant. The genes allow the rice to maintain yields even it is stressed by cold, drought and high salt levels. The sugar leaves the chemical composition of the rice grains unchanged. It is hoped the new crop will help farmers in developing countries be more productive on poor land, increasing yields by up to 20%.
As the word's population continues to rise, many scientists are looking to genetic engineering to improve food production. One approach is to engineer plants that will thrive on difficult land conditions. Soils affected by drought and high salt levels alter a plant's metabolism, stunting its growth and development. But the latest research from Professor Ray Wu, at Cornell University in New York, and colleagues could see millions of hectares of low-yield farmland experiencing improved production.
Stabilising compound The key to making the research team's extremely hardy rice is a type of sugar. Trehalose helps stabilise biological molecules - lipids, enzymes and other proteins - in organisms that are experiencing environmental stress. The sugar is naturally found in fungi, bacteria and some invertebrate animals. It is also found in drought-resistant plants, which it protects from damage during desiccation. However, until now, scientists have been unable to transfer the genes that code for trehalose into other plants without damaging them. In previous studies, trehalose genes were taken from yeast or the bacterium E. coli - but the GM plants failed to grow properly.
Fusion genes The team worked on the basmati (indica) rice plant, the most common rice variety in the world. It inserted two genes from the bacterium E. coli into the rice genome. But to avoid the problems previously experienced, the scientists also inserted a "fusion" gene. This combines the two trehalose genes together, making the sugar easier to work with. The team also added a special promoter - a starting gene - in front of the trehalose genes, which ensures the sugar code is only switched on when the plant is under stress. By modifying the rice in this special way, the plant develops normally and is more tolerant to environmental pressures. The sugar also helps plant cells regain their efficiency when environmental conditions improve.
Naturally occurring Professor Ray Wu said there was no danger to the environment from this new form of GM rice. He told BBC News Online: "The genes [for trehalose] are already present in wild rice and domestic rice in smaller quantities. Even if it did get into wild rice, it would just become more tolerant." So far, the scientists only have preliminary results, but they estimate that if their rice is grown commercially it would increase yields by up to 20%. "We will be able to feed many more people if this can be realised in the field," Professor Wu said.
Maize and barley Other crops from the grass family - like corn (maize), wheat, barley, sugarcane and rye - are closely related to rice. In theory, they too could be modified using the same techniques. Professor Wu said that work was already under way on corn and wheat to try to make them more tolerant to droughts, salinity and extreme temperatures. "In principle, it is likely to happen, but it has to be proved experimentally."
The technology will be placed in the public domain, rather than being sold to a commercial seed company, so that improved crop varieties can be grown in areas of the world where soil and weather conditions make it difficult to farm rice."
("The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.")
Peter
Macinnis added:
> Potentially good news for much of the world's population.
> (I especially like the "public domain" final comment.)
Me too.
I went to Cornell's news release site -- this is now out of embargo, so visit
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Nov02/trehalose_stress.hrs.html
to get the
inside view.
Toby Fiander responded:
In Australia, all rice is grown by flooding the land, which is why soil infiltration is an issue. Rice production without the flooding might now be possible, if someone can figure out how to control the weeds.
OTOH, rice might now be so easy to grow, no paying customer will want to buy any. As usual, we await further developments.
Podargus commented:
Pertinent as
we export 90% of the crop. Most in retail packs.
Karyn wrote:Podargus responded:
But when it comes down to looking at the crop cost, in resources, rice is really really expensive (when we're looking at the water diverted from downstream etc.).
That is possibly a reason why the aussie rice farmers have been having such a huge advertising campaign, to get a market firmly entrenched for the times when they *will* have to pay for the water used, and the rice prices go up.
In this instance, I expect that the exports will reduce due to the cost and our rice industry will go into decline ...
> but when it comes down to looking at the crop cost, in resources, rice isThis is true, and the rice industry is making attempts to be more sensitive. However life, and as Toby has pointed out, water usage is more complicated than that. Things like foreign exchange etc etc.
> really really expensive (when we're looking at the water diverted from
> downstream etc.).
> that is possibly a reason why the aussie rice farmers have been having such
> a huge advertising campaign, to get a market firmly entrenched for the times
> when they *will* have to pay for the water used, and the rice prices go up.
> in this instance, i expect that the exports will reduce due to the cost andWhich is the point I was trying to make.
> our rice industry will go into decline ...
Toby Fiander wrote:
Australia's rice production is tiny compared to most countries of the region, but most of them don't trade in it much. In fact only about 1% of total rice production is actually traded, so Australia is the third largest trader of rice.
Rice breeding in Australia has been one of its strong points. The marketing has also been excellent. There is a large processing infrastructure owned by the growers. So it is an admirable industry in many respects.
The management of the water on farm has been one of its less than spectacular areas with some land in use that probably should not have been. However, these are issues over which the industry as a whole has had little control. They have historical roots. They are also matters that have strong social and political implications.
It is too early to tell, but it seems likely that if there is new genetic technology, the breeders in Australia will be up with it, because that has been their record so far.
Also, the rice has a niche market in the high quality end. Unlike the cheap competition (mostly house and nameless brands) which in my experience have discoloured grains and the occasional piece of quartz waiting to break a tooth of the unwary, Australian rice is consistently of excellent quality.
American Rice (Uncle Bens is the most established brand I think) is also reasonable quality. I don't buy it myself. Here, we buy Sungold and, for dietary reasons, Basmati-style and fancy rices. Rice is pretty cheap anyway so saving the few cents buying someone's job-lot imported stuff seems like false economy to me. Nevertheless, there is a lot of it.
When next I get the chance I will talk to the breeders at Yanco, assuming they are still doing that work, and see what they think of the rice with apparently cactus qualities. I had thought I might be doing other work in Deniliquin, and might spend some time there, but apparently this is now unlikely. Working there in autumn would be better anyway. Unless you are Kevin from Wycheproof, being on the coast is probably has a more desirable climate....
