RICE RESEARCH GETS $5M FROM USDA
United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ann M.
Veneman announced a $5 million grant to
support research
to improve rice crops using genomic- based tools. The multidisciplinary
team is composed of 14 institutions – including the
Agricultural Research Service, Cornell University, the California
Rice Research Foundation, and the International Rice Research
Institute – and will be coordinated by scientists at
the University of Arkansas.
Included in the projects goals are a) a novel extension
program to engage rice extension and industry personnel in
agricultural genomics research, b) exploring the potential
of genomic-based tools, and c) public education on the merits
of applying genome information to improve agricultural crops.
Visit
the USDA at http://www.usda.gov for
more information. For details on the genome project, see http://www.uark.edu/ua/ricecap.
NEW INDEX POSSIBLE FOR SCREENING SALT TOLERANT RICE LINES
The concentration of glycinebetaine,
a molecule produced in plants in response to salt stress,
may be used as a rapid
biochemical index for the screening of new salt-tolerant
lines of rice. Suriyan Cha-um of the National Center for
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and colleagues discuss
this finding in an article in the latest
issue
of Science
Asia.
Glycinebetaine (Glybet) is involved in plant stress responses
to extreme salt, drought, temperature, and light conditions.
Studies have shown that Glybet acts as an osmoprotective
agent by stabilizing both the quaternary structures of proteins
and the highly ordered structure of membranes against the
adverse effects of salinity and water-deficit.
Using Thai jasmine rice seedlings, researchers found that
betaine
aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), a key enzyme in the
Glybet synthesis pathway, showed progressive elevation during
the first four days after growth under salt-stress conditions
(342 mM NaCl), but gradually decreased thereafter (days 6-8).
This increase in BADH activity was accompanied by an accumulation
of Glybet. In contrast, the BADH activity and Glybet content
of control seedlings (0 mM NaCl) remained at a low and constant
level during the same 8-day interval.
Significant reductions in the concentrations of chlorophyll
a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and total carotenoid content of salt-stressed seedlings were also observed with
increasing exposure time to salt-stressed conditions.
Glybet accumulation in rice seedlings is consistent with
the known defense response in plants, and assaying BADH activity
and/or Glybet accumulation may be further used in screening
for salt-tolerant varieties of rice.
Download
the complete article, "Biochemical and Physiological
Responses of Thai Jasmine Rice to Salt Stress," at http://scienceasia.tiac.or.th/PDF/vol30/
v30_247_253.pdf
PAPER
RECOMMENDS STRATEGIES FOR BIOTECH IN EUROPE
In
For A Competitive European Biotechnology Industry, Christian
Patermann recounts the proposals set
forth by the European
Union (EU) Comprehensive Strategy on Life Sciences & Biotechnology,
and recommends strategies by which Europe may be able to
strengthen its biotechnology industry. The paper is part
of the compilation Biotechnology In Europe Today, available
online.
The strategy, first drafted in 2002, emphasized research,
careers and mobility, linking science and society, regulations,
and coordination between member states. It specifically outlined
the EU-funded 6th Framework Programme for Research (2003-2006),
which prioritizes Life Sciences, Genomics, and Biotechnology
for Health (designated Priority 1) and Food Quality and Food
Safety (Priority 5).
An outgrowth of this strategy is the European technology
platform on plant genomics and biotechnology, launched in
June 2004, which brought together key stakeholders from various
sectors to formulate a strategic research agenda for 2005-2010.
The meeting sought to define medium and long-term targets
and priorities; and build up the necessary public-private-partnership,
including the mechanism to mobilize private and public investments.
Patermann, however, recommends fresh strategies for a stronger
biotechnology industry in the continent. These include increasing
funds for research; drafting workable intellectual property
rights laws; implementing regulations more strictly; and
bringing researchers, businessmen, and other stakeholders
together, working to sustain momentum.
More papers are available for download at http://www.teknoscienze.com/supplements/biotech_in_europe/
Biotech_in_europe.htm
EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES MUST JOIN FORCES TO STRENGTHEN BIOTECH SECTOR – REPORT
Countries in Europe must join forces, sources, and knowledge
to develop a strong biotechnology sector. This was proposed
in a recent compilation of country reports on the state of
local biotechnology, as well as on emerging biotechnology
products and techniques in the continent, entitled Biotechnology
in Europe Today.
The report cited the lack of financial resources, lack of
business knowledge by the science sector, delays due to a
stringent regulatory framework, and low consumer acceptance
as the main obstacles to growth of biotechnology in the region.
Problems
are further explored in each country report. Portugal,
for instance, is doing research, but has little entrepreneurial
spirit amongst its researchers, as well as strong public
diffidence towards biotechnology applications. On the other
hand, other countries like Estonia have difficulty in attracting
Venture Capital (VC), since VC’s have poor information
and knowledge about risk assessment regarding the biotech
sector in that country, and are not interested in the sector
itself because it gives no assurance of success.
More country reports are available for download at http://www.teknoscienze.com/supplements/biotech_in_europe/
Biotech_in_europe.htm
COUNTRY REPORT TACKLES SUCCESS OF UK BIOTECH INDUSTRY
Liberal regulations and research focus are behind the booming
biotechnology industry in the United Kingdom. This was reported
in Biotechnology In the United Kingdom: A Strong Wish To
Maintain The Leadership, a paper included in the compilation
Biotechnology In Europe Today, available online.
Research in the UK is dominated by pharmaceutical biotechnology,
and is funded indirectly through fiscal measures from the
government. These include LINK, run by the Office of Science
and Technology, which provides funds for over two or three
years for joint projects between universities and business
for bioscience; and BIO-WISE, an on-line information service
promoting awareness of biotechnology and its potential.
Other features peculiar to the UK system are a liberal regulatory
framework; efficient technology transfer and business development;
and clustering, where companies involved in biotechnology
business are situated in the same area as universities involved
in biotechnology research.
Read the full report at http://www.teknoscienze.com/supplements/pdf/biotechnology_in
_europe_today_2004/uk1.pdf
BIOTECH CROP PLANTINGS SEEING GREATER EXPANSION IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
The direction of global plant biotechnology suggests that
major expansion in biotech crop plantings will occur in developing
countries, particularly in Asia, Latin America, and parts
of Africa, according to a new study, The Global Diffusion
of Plant Biotechnology: International Adoption and Research
in 2004, conducted by C. Ford Runge, director of the Center
for International Food and Agricultural Policy, University
of Minnesota.
Apart from this expansion, the range of biotech crops approved
commercially will continue to grow, resulting in new markets
and opportunities, especially in developing countries.
Biotech crops are now being grown in 18 countries, while
another 45 countries are into research and development and
field testing.
Twelve countries in the Asia-Pacific region are involved
in some aspect of plant biotech research and development.
The leading national programs are in Australia, China, India,
Indonesia, and the Philippines. More modest plant biotech
research activities are underway in Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Korea, and Thailand.
“Perhaps the most significant single potential actor
in Asia is China, which is aggressively engaged in biotech
adoption and research. There is reason to expect China to
emerge as an influential force in plant biotech in the years
to come”, the study says. The study foresees that in
the next 10 years, about half of China’s fields will
be planted to biotech crops.
Countries with biotech crop research in Africa include South
Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. South
Africa is taking the lead with commercial production of biotech
maize, soybean, and cotton, all valued at $146.9 million.
Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are aggressively
adopting biotech crops and are poised to move to adopt more
varieties in the near future. The adoption process is led
by Argentina, with nearly 14 million hectares planted to
biotech soybean, maize, and cotton. Brazil has 3 million
hectares planted to biotech soybean.
The study is available at http://www.apec.umn.edu/faculty/frunge/globalbiotech04.pdf.
ANNOUNCEMENT
WORKSHOP
ON ROLE OF BIOTECH IN 2005
A workshop on The Role of Biotechnology for the Characterization
and Conservation of Crop, Forestry, Animal, and Fishery Genetic
Resources is slated for the 5th-7th of March, 2005, in Villa
Gualino, Turin, Italy.
Organized
by the FAO Working Group on Biotechnology, the Fondazione
per le Biotecnologie, the ECONOGENE project,
and
the Società Italiana di Genetica Agraria, the workshop
includes sessions on the status of the world's agro-biodiversity;
the use of biotechnology for conservation of genetic resources;
and genetic characterization of populations and its use in
conservation decision-making.
For more information, visit http://www.fobiotech.org/FAO_2005.htm
|
