The proteomes of feedstocks used for the production of second‐generation ethanol: a lacuna in the biofuel era

Maize, sorghum, sugarcane, switchgrass and miscanthus are the main crops suggested as potential sources of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of second‐generation ethanol. The attention these crops have received has been concentrated in the field of genomics, and very little research has been performed in the field of proteomics, particularly in the cell wall proteomic, despite the importance of these crops in biofuel production. New mass spectrometry‐based proteomic methods allow the identification and quantification of thousands of proteins in complex mixtures, as well as the detection of post‐translational changes in complex proteomes, providing important insight into the downstream consequences of gene expression. Together with other ‘omic’ approaches, proteomic might be decisive to bring new information in the study of cell wall formation. Here, we briefly highlight proteomic techniques and review the research that has been completed on the proteomes of these five crops.     

TILLING moves beyond functional genomics into crop improvement

Transgenic methods have been successfully applied to trait improvement in a number of crops. However, reverse genetics studies by transgenic means are not practical in many commercially important crops, hampering investigations into gene function and the development of novel and improved cultivars. A nontransgenic method for reverse genetics called Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) has been developed as a method for inducing and identifying novel genetic variation, and has been demonstrated in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Recently, TILLING has been extended to the improvement of crop plants and shows great promise as a general method for both functional genomics and modulation of key traits in diverse crops.     

GM crops in Ethiopia: a realistic way to increase agricultural performance?

Much has been published on the application of genetically modified (GM) crops in Africa, but agricultural performance has hardly been addressed. This paper discusses the main consequences of GM crops on agricultural performance in Ethiopia. Three main criteria of performance - productivity, equitability and sustainability - are evaluated in the context of the Ethiopian agricultural sector. We conclude that the application of GM crops can improve the agricultural productivity and sustainability, whereas equitability cannot be stimulated and might even exacerbate the gap between socioeconomic classes. Before introducing GM crops to Ethiopian agriculture, regulatory issues should be addressed, public research should be fostered, and more ex ante values and socioeconomic studies should be included.     

Suitability of aromatic plants for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated areas: a review

Abstract

This review briefly elucidates the research undertaken and benefits of using aromatic plants for remediation of heavy metal polluted sites. A sustainable approach to mitigate heavy metal contamination of environment is need of the hour. Phytoremediation has emerged to be one of the most preferable choices for combating the metal pollution problem. Aromatic plants can be used for remediation of contaminated sites as they are non-food crops thus minimizing the risk of food chain contamination. Most promising aromatic plants for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated sites have been identified from families – Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Geraniaceae. They act as potential phytostabilisers, hyper accumulators, bio-monitors, and facultative metallophytes. Being high value economic crops, monetary benefits can be obtained by growing them in tainted areas instead of food crops. It has been observed that heavy metal stress enhances the essential oil percentage of certain aromatic crops. Research conducted on some major aromatic plants in this context has been highlighted in the present review which suggests that aromatic plants hold a great potential for phytoremediation. It has been reported that essential oil from aromatic crops is not contaminated by heavy metals significantly. Thus, aromatic plants are emerging as an ideal candidate for phytoremediation.

Highlights

? Aromatic plants hold a great potential for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated sites.

? Being high value economic crops, monetary benefits can be obtained by growing them in contaminated areas instead of food crops.

? Research done on some major aromatic plants in this context has been highlighted in the present review.     

Mini-Review of Knowledge Gaps in Salt Tolerance of Plants Applied to Willows and Poplars

Salt tolerance of agricultural crops has been studied since the 1940, but knowledge regarding salt tolerance of woody crops is still in its initial phase. Salt tolerance of agricultural crops has been expressed as the yield decrease due to a certain salt concentration within the root zone as compared to a non-saline control. The most well-known plant response curve to salinity has been a piece-wise linear regression relating crop yield to root zone salinity. This method used the hypothesis that crops tolerate salt up to a threshold after which their yield decreases approximately linearly. Critique to this method included its lack of sensitivity to dynamic factors such as weather conditions. As a result, other classification indices have been developed, but none is as well accepted as the threshold-slope model. In addition to a mini-review of the key salt tolerance studies, our objective was to classify salt tolerance levels of poplars and willows. Initial classification showed that salt tolerance of these genera ranged from sensitive to moderately tolerant.     

Genetically modified soybeans and food allergies

Allergenic reactions to proteins expressed in GM crops has been one of the prominent concerns among biotechnology critics and a concern of regulatory agencies. Soybeans like many plants have intrinsic allergens that present problems for sensitive people. Current GM crops, including soybean, have not been shown to add any additional allergenic risk beyond the intrinsic risks already present. Biotechnology can be used to characterize and eliminate allergens naturally present in crops. Biotechnology has been used to remove a major allergen in soybean demonstrating that genetic modification can be used to reduce allergenicity of food and feed. This provides a model for further use of GM approaches to eliminate allergens.     

Biosafety management and commercial use of genetically modified crops in China

As a developing country with relatively limited arable land, China is making great efforts for development and use of genetically modified (GM) crops to boost agricultural productivity. Many GM crop varieties have been developed in China in recent years; in particular, China is playing a leading role in development of insect-resistant GM rice lines. To ensure the safe use of GM crops, biosafety risk assessments are required as an important part of the regulatory oversight of such products. With over 20 years of nationwide promotion of agricultural biotechnology, a relatively well-developed regulatory system for risk assessment and management of GM plants has been developed that establishes a firm basis for safe use of GM crops. So far, a total of seven GM crops involving ten events have been approved for commercial planting, and 5 GM crops with a total of 37 events have been approved for import as processing material in China. However, currently only insect-resistant Bt cotton and disease-resistant papaya have been commercially planted on a large scale. The planting of Bt cotton and disease-resistant papaya have provided efficient protection against cotton bollworms and Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), respectively. As a consequence, chemical application to these crops has been significantly reduced, enhancing farm income while reducing human and non-target organism exposure to toxic chemicals. This article provides useful information for the colleagues, in particular for them whose mother tongue is not Chinese, to clearly understand the biosafety regulation and commercial use of genetically modified crops in China.     

我国麻类作物种质资源保护与利用研究进展

总结了我国麻类种质资源在收集保存、繁殖更新、鉴定评价和分发利用等方面的最新进展.10年来,新增麻类种质697份,保存资源数量增至9764份,居世界第1位;繁殖更新麻类资源5343份次,基本解决了麻类资源安全保存和供种等问题;完成农艺性状、经济性状及特性鉴定6543份次,筛选出麻类优异种质296份;向全国50家单位分发种质4296份次,资源利用效率大幅提高.并针对当前存在的问题,提出了下一步工作的明确目标和任务.     

Genomics and molecular breeding in lesser explored pulse crops: Current trends and future opportunities

Pulses are multipurpose crops for providing income, employment and food security in the underprivileged regions, notably the FAO-defined low-income food-deficit countries. Owing to their intrinsic ability to endure environmental adversities and the least input/management requirements, these crops remain central to subsistence farming. Given their pivotal role in rain-fed agriculture, substantial research has been invested to boost the productivity of these pulse crops. To this end, genomic tools and technologies have appeared as the compelling supplement to the conventional breeding. However, the progress in minor pulse crops including dry beans (Vigna spp.), lupins, lablab, lathyrus and vetches has remained unsatisfactory, hence these crops are often labeled as low profile or lesser researched. Nevertheless, recent scientific and technological breakthroughs particularly the next generation sequencing (NGS) are radically transforming the scenario of genomics and molecular breeding in these minor crops. NGS techniques have allowed de novo assembly of whole genomes in these orphan crops. Moreover, the availability of a reference genome sequence would promote re-sequencing of diverse genotypes to unlock allelic diversity at a genome-wide scale. In parallel, NGS has offered high-resolution genetic maps or more precisely, a robust genetic framework to implement whole-genome strategies for crop improvement. As has already been demonstrated in lupin, sequencing-based genotyping of the representative sample provided access to a number of functionally-relevant markers that could be deployed straight away in crop breeding programs. This article attempts to outline the recent progress made in genomics of these lesser explored pulse crops, and examines the prospects of genomics assisted integrated breeding to enhance and stabilize crop yields.     

Advances in development of transgenic pulse crops

It is three decades since the first transgenic pulse crop has been developed. Todate, genetic transformation has been reported in all the major pulse crops like Vigna species, Cicer arietinum, Cajanus cajan, Phaseolus spp, Lupinus spp, Vicia spp and Pisum sativum, but transgenic pulse crops have not yet been commercially released. Despite the crucial role played by pulse crops in tropical agriculture, transgenic pulse crops have not moved out from laboratories to large farm lands compared to their counterparts - 'cereals' and the closely related leguminous oil crop - 'soybean'. The reason for lack of commercialization of transgenic pulse crops can be attributed to the difficulty in developing transgenics with reproducibility, which in turn is due to lack of competent totipotent cells for transformation, long periods required for developing transgenics and lack of coordinated research efforts by the scientific community and long term funding. With optimization of various factors which influence genetic transformation of pulse crops, it will be possible to develop transgenic plants in this important group of crop species with more precision and reproducibility. A translation of knowledge from information available in genomics and functional genomics in model legumes like Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus relating to factors which contribute to enhancing crop yield and ameliorate the negative consequences of biotic and abiotic stress factors may provide novel insights for genetic manipulation to improve the productivity of pulse crops.     

Cucurbit biotechnology-the importance of virus resistance

Summary The cucurbit family includes a number of valuable crop species (melon, cucumber, squash/pumpkin, watermelon). Much of this review is concerned with transgenic resistance to viruses, shown to be the major application of biotechnology in the cucurbit family. Progress made with the production of transgenic cucurbit crops is discussed. Published data on field tests of transgenic cucurbits are reviewed, showing that much progress has been made with multiple virus-resistant cucurbit crops which can be productive without chemical control of insect virus vectors. Modes of virus resistance in trangenic cucurbits are discussed, as is the bio-safety of such crops. For the first time a detailed analysis has been made of world-wide and US field test applications for cucurbit crops. World-wide, most field test applications were for melon (54%), followed by squash (32%). World-wide most field test applications were for virus resistance (84%), and most applications (77%) were in the USA. Two transgenic multiple virus-resistant squash crops have been deregulated (released for sale). Additionally, the analysis shows that there are transgenic multiple virus-resistant crops in all major cucurbit species already available, for which several different companies have applied for field tests. This would imply that such crops are ready to be marketed should conditions permit, which would have an impact world-wide in reduction of ecological damage due to chemical control of the insect viral vectors.     

New Technologies, Tools and Approaches for Improving Crop Breeding

Introduction Most crops were first domesticated about 13 000 to 11 000 years ago.Humans are dependent on crops for survival,and from the beginnings of agriculture have been energetically involved in developing crops that better serve their needs     

我国转基因作物育种发展回顾与思考

文章综述了近30年来我国转基因作物育种发展历程和基本经验,并以实例说明我国已初步建成了世界上为数不多的转基因育种创新和产业开发体系,包括基因发掘、遗传转化、良种培育、产业开发,应用推广以及安全评价等关键环节;棉花、水稻、玉米等作物转基因研究创新能力得到进一步提升,初步形成了自己的研究特色和比较优势。本文对转基因作物育种当前存在的问题与面对的挑战进行了分析,提出了推进重大研究成果产业化、加快重大专项实施和自主创新、加强转基因科学传播等三点建议。     

A golden era—pro-vitamin A enhancement in diverse crops

Numerous crops have been bred or engineered to increase carotenoid levels in an effort to develop novel strategies that address vitamin A deficiency in the developing world. The pioneering work in rice (not covered in this review) has been followed up in many additional crops, some of which are staples like rice whereas others are luxury products whose impact on food security is likely to be marginal. This review surveys the progress that has been made in carotenoid breeding and metabolic engineering, focusing on β-carotene enhancement in crops other than rice. We ask if these efforts have the potential to address vitamin A deficiency in developing countries by comparing bioavailable pro-vitamin A levels in wild type and enhanced crops to determine whether nutritional requirements can be met without the consumption of unrealistic amounts of food. The potential impact of carotenoid enhancement should therefore be judged against benchmarks that include the importance of particular crops in terms of global food security, the amount of bioavailable β-carotene, and the amount of food that must be consumed to achieve the reference daily intake of vitamin A.     

Genetically modified and organic crops in developing countries: A review of options for food security

Since two decades ago, when the first GM crops were introduced, there have increasingly been hot debates on the applications of gene manipulation. Currently, the development of GM crop varieties has raised a wide range of new legal, ethical and economic questions in agriculture. There is a growing body of literature reflecting the socio-economic and environmental impacts of GM crops which aims to criticize their value for farming systems. While organic crops are promoted as environmentally-friendly products in developed countries, they have provoked great controversy in developing countries facing food security and a low agricultural productivity. Discussion has been especially vigorous when organic farming was introduced as an alternative method. There are in fact, a few tradeoffs in developing countries. On the one hand, farmers are encouraged to accept and implement GM crops because of their higher productivity, while on the other hand, organic farming is encouraged because of socio-economic and environmental considerations. A crucial question facing such countries is therefore, whether GM crops can co-exist with organic farming. This paper aims to review the main considerations and tradeoffs.     

图位克隆技术在农作物基因分离中的应用与评价

图位克隆(Map-based cloning)作为分离基因的有效方法, 已在小基因组作物的基因分离中得到了广泛应用和发展, 而在具有大量重复DNA序列的大基因组作物中的应用仍存在挑战。基于图位克隆在基因分离中的重要性, 文章就图位克隆技术的基本内容及发展做简要概述, 着重对图位克隆技术在大基因组作物中的应用进行分析和评价, 同时对它今后可能的发展方向进行了讨论, 以期为大基因组作物基因的分离提供借鉴。     

多胺类代谢与园艺作物生长发育关系研究进展

本文综述了国内外近年来对多胺类物质与园艺作物生长发育关系的研究报道。就多胺类的合成途径、对植物生长发育的调控作用以及在园艺作物上的应用进行了概述。     

Origins of food crops connect countries worldwide

Research into the origins of food plants has led to the recognition that specific geographical regions around the world have been of particular importance to the development of agricultural crops. Yet the relative contributions of these different regions in the context of current food systems have not been quantified. Here we determine the origins (‘primary regions of diversity’) of the crops comprising the food supplies and agricultural production of countries worldwide. We estimate the degree to which countries use crops from regions of diversity other than their own (‘foreign crops’), and quantify changes in this usage over the past 50 years. Countries are highly interconnected with regard to primary regions of diversity of the crops they cultivate and/or consume. Foreign crops are extensively used in food supplies (68.7% of national food supplies as a global mean are derived from foreign crops) and production systems (69.3% of crops grown are foreign). Foreign crop usage has increased significantly over the past 50 years, including in countries with high indigenous crop diversity. The results provide a novel perspective on the ongoing globalization of food systems worldwide, and bolster evidence for the importance of international collaboration on genetic resource conservation and exchange.     

阿根廷转基因作物安全管理制度概况及进展

阿根廷是最早采用转基因技术的国家之一,目前已成为全球第三大转基因作物种植国。阿根廷是全球尤其是拉美国家在生物技术产品监管和审批方面的先驱,其在转基因作物监管问题方面的丰富经验以及联合国粮食及农业组织的认可使阿根廷成为全球转基因作物监管的领导者之一。介绍了阿根廷转基因作物研发和应用、转基因作物监管体系、新型育种技术监管体系、转基因作物进出口情况以及追溯体系,讨论了转基因技术的引进对阿根廷的影响,旨在全面了解阿根廷转基因作物及新型育种技术的监管体系,为我国转基因作物安全管理提供参考。     

转基因抗虫作物对捕食性瓢虫的安全性研究进展

转基因抗虫作物的商业化种植带来了显著的经济、生态和社会效益,对转基因抗虫作物的安全性评价也一直是国内外学者研究的热点。对生物非靶标效应的研究是转基因抗虫作物安全性评价的重要组成部分,农田天敌类生物是其中的重点内容之一。瓢虫是农田生态系统重要的捕食性天敌,评价其在转基因抗虫作物田间是否能通过捕食猎物或取食花粉而接触到杀虫蛋白并富集于体内,进而对自身产生一定的非靶标效应,这对捕食性瓢虫的安全性研究具有重要的意义。本文从捕食性天敌瓢虫的生命表参数、行为功能参数、田间群落参数及体内微环境指标等方面综述了转基因抗虫作物对瓢虫的安全性研究进展,并对后期转基因抗虫作物对田间捕食性天敌的研究方向提出了建议,以期为转基因抗虫作物的环境安全性研究提供理论指导和为进一步完善转基因抗虫作物对瓢虫安全性评价的技术体系提供系统的数据资料。