michigan State university plant scientists have discovered another piece of the genetic puzzle that controls how plants respond to high temperatures, which may allow plant breeders to create new varieties of crops that flourish in warmer, drier climates. The MSU researchers found that the gene bZIP28 helps regulate heat stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the mustard family used as a model plant for genetic studies. This is the first time bZIP28 has been shown to play a role in heat tolerance. The research is published in the October 6 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
europabio has released a report on agricultural biotechnology crop cultivation in Europe. The data demonstrates that more European Union farmers are choosing to adopt agricultural biotechnology to boost their productivity, despite a 10-year moratorium on new product approvals. The total area cultivated with biotech crops in the EU in 2008 was 107,719 hectares in seven countries. This represents a 21% increase over 2007. The cultivated acreage of biotech crops has increased more than tenfold in Poland and Romania in 2008, doubled in Slovakia, and increased by 68% in the Czech Republic compared to 2007. In Spain, where most of the EU’s biotech crops are grown, the cultivated acreage increased by 5%. Spain now has 11 years of experience with agricultural biotechnology.
Speaking at the World Food prize 2008 borlaug dialogue in Iowa, the director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust called on the U.S. and nations around the world to support efforts to
January 2009
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secure the world’s crop diversity collections. “When it comes to food, the most underappreciated, undervalued – and the most potent – tool we have to address all of these crises lies in the natural diversity that exists within each crop,” says Cary Fowler, Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust. “There are more than 30,000 unique varieties of corn and 200,000 distinct types of wheat, for example. This diversity is a treasure trove of traits that can be used by plant breeders and farmers to breed new crop varieties that are heat, insect and disease-resistant, drought-tolerant and climate-ready.” U.S. agriculture needs the genetic resources of collections of crop diversity around the world to combat pests and diseases and to adapt to environmental changes, adds Fowler.
the uSda’s agricultural marketing Service announced that the Australian government has recognized the equivalence of AMS marketing facilitating programs for seed, giving clearance for the U.S. to engage in commerce trade with Australia more easily. “This agreement signifies the increasing ability of U.S. seed to be shipped directly to Australian seed users,” says David Shipman, Associate Administrator of AMS. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service’s recognition of AMS Accredited Seed Sampling Program and Accredited Seed Laboratory Program allows seed companies and laboratories that have been accredited under these programs to sample and test seed, which will now certify the seed for direct export to Australia.
editorial board jay Akridge, Purdue University harry Collins, delta and Pine land Company marc Cool, Seeds of Change Greg duerksen, Kincannon & reed Tim Gutormson, mid-West Seed Services r.B. halaby, AgriCapital Bruce howison, Syngenta Seeds, Inc. Wayne Gale, Stokes Seeds Peter marks, Germain’s Technology Group – N.A. Barb mcmullan, Illinois Foundation Seeds Bill romp, Becker Underwood
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