Insect resistant ferns could hold key to developing next generation GMO crops

Genetic modification to common crops… has significantly reduced damage caused by insects that feed off plant leaves, but it has its limitations. One of these limitations is sap-sucking insects, which aren’t affected by the plants’ engineered insecticide.

However, a recent paper in Nature Biotechnology describes cotton that has been genetically modified with an insecticidal protein found in ferns, which might be a safe solution to this issue.

. . . .

[F]erns and mosses are rarely infested by sap-sucking insects… Extracts from these plants have been used as pesticides… but the factors responsible for the insecticidal abilities haven’t been identified.

The authors [screened] many species of fern to look for plant proteins that would kill whiteflies. They found a candidate… Tma12… [and] created a transgenic cotton plant that expressed it…

The whiteflies that fed on Tma12-producing plants developed abnormally. Very few of them grew into adulthood…

To determine if this transgenic cotton plant would be safe to use in commercial products, the researchers gave rats some food with some of the plants in it… Tma12 was undetectable in the rats, even at the highest levels of exposure, which far exceed what a human might… accidentally ingest…

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Transgenic cotton plant resistant to common insect pest

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}
screenshot at  pm

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring drew attention to pesticides and their possible dangers to humans, birds, mammals and the ...
glp menu logo outlined

Newsletter Subscription

* indicates required
Email Lists
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.