Elementary plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2+1)

Applications of Transgenic plants

• Transgenic researche in crop plants offered several applications in horticulture. It includes quality improvement such as
• Oils, such as soybean and canola oils, developed to contain more stearate, making margarine and shortenings more healthful
• Peas grown to remain sweeter and produce higher crop yields
• Smaller, seedless melons for use as single servings
• Bananas and pineapples with delayed ripening qualities
• Peanuts with improved protein balance
• Fungal resistant bananas
• Tomatoes with a higher antioxidant (lycopene) content than current varieties
• Potatoes with a higher solids content (higher starch) than conventional potatoes
• Reducing the amount of oil absorbed during processing of foods like french fries or potato chips
• Fruits and vegetables fortified with or containing higher levels of vitamins such as c and e, to potentially protect against the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease
• Rice with increased levels of provitamin a (referred as golden rice) and fe
• Garlic cloves, producing more allicin, possibly helping to lower cholesterol levels
• Higher-protein rice, using genes transferred from pea plants
• Strawberries, containing increased levels of ellagic acid, a natural-cancer fighting agent
• Peppers, strawberries, raspberries, bananas, sweet potatoes and melons that are enhanced for better nutrition and quality
• Strawberries with higher crop yields and improved freshness, flavor and texture
• Besides transgenic plants have revolutionized the agriculture in several realm such as development of insect resistance (Bt-cotton, Bt-corn) and disease resistance, herbicide resistance, and grain quality improvement. For detailed discussion refer the applications of biotechnology dealt in previous lecture.