GM Potatoes with Improved Freezing Tolerance

Summary posted by Meridian on 9/18/2007
Source: n/a
Author: Crop Biotech Update

U.S. and Korean researchers have developed genetically modified (GM) potatoes with increased freezing tolerance of up to -5 °Celsius. To develop the potatoes, researchers introduced the genes AtBCF for freezing tolerance from Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as a promoter that acts to promote expression of the genes under cold conditions. The introduction of the cold-inducible promoter, together with the AtBCF genes, was found to minimize the expression of certain agronomically undesirable traits, such as delayed flowering and retarded growth, which had previously been attributed to the AtBCF genes. The article says that efforts to develop freeze-tolerance potatoes through conventional breeding have so far been unsuccessful. However, the trait is an important one because even a brief exposure to frost can significantly reduce potato yields, while hard frosts can completely destroy entire crops. The researchers are working to apply their freeze tolerance technology in additional crops as well. Their research results are published in the September edition of the Plant Biotechnology Journal. The article and a link to the scientific abstract are available online at the link below.

The original article may still be available at www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/online/default.asp?Date=9/14/2007#878

As tagged by Meridian Institute:

Topics: Product development
Regions: East and South Asia and the Pacific, North America

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• Scientific research and product development

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