Biotechnology of Food Crops in Developing Countries

234 Pages·1999·4.771 MB·English

by  Klaus M. Leisinger (auth.), Dr. Thomas Hohn, Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger (eds.)

Further volumes in this series:
D. P. S. Verma, T. Hohn(eds.)
Genes Involved in Microbe-Plant Interactions
B. Hohn, E. S. Dennis (eds.)
Genetic Flux in Plants
A. D. Blonstein, P. J. King (eds.)
A Genetic Approach to Plant Biochemistry
T. Hohn, J. Schell (eds.)
Plant DNA Infectious Agents
D. P. S. Verma, R. B. Goldberg (eds.)
Temporal and Spatial Regulation of Plant Genes
E. S. Dennis, D. 1. Llewellyn (eds.)
Molecular Approaches to Crop Improvement
R. G. Herrmann (ed.)
Cell Organelles
T. Boller, F. Meins (eds.)
Genes Involved in Plant Defense
D. P. S. Verma (ed.)
Signal Transduction in Plant Growth
and Development

Plant Gene Research
Basic Knowledge and Application
Edited by
E. S. Dennis, Canberra,
B. Hohn, Basel,
T. Hohn, Basel (Managing Editor),
F. Meins, Jr., Basel,
J. Schell, Koln,
D. P. S Verma, Columbus
T. Hohn
K. M. Leisinger (eds.)
Biotechnology of Food Crops
in Developing Countries
Springer-Verlag Wien GmbH
Dr. Thomas Hohn
Friedrich Miescher Institut, Basel
Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger
Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, Basel
This work is subject to copyright.
All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically
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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Wien
Originally pub1ished by Springer-Verlag Wien New York in 1999
Soficover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1999
Printed by Novographic, Ing. Wo1fgang Schmid, A-1230 Wien
Typeset by Thomson Press (India) Ltd., New Delhi, India
Graphic design: Ecke Bonk
Printed on acid-free and ch1orine-free b1eached paper
With 4 Figures
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Biotechno1ogy of food crops in deve10ping countries / T. Hohn, K.M.
Leisinger (eds.).
p. cm. - (P1ant gene research)
Inc1udes bibliographica1 references and index.
ISBN 978-3-7091-7316-9 ISBN 978-3-7091-6406-8 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-7091-6406-8
1. Food crops-Biotechno10gy. 1. Hohn, Thomas, 1938-
II. Leisinger, K1aus M. III. Series.
S8175.B545 1999
631.5'23-dc21 99-25172
ISSN 0175-2073
ISBN 978-3-7091-7316-9
Preface
Recent advances in gene technology, plant transformation, and the growing
knowledge of DNA sequences of plants as well as of their most important
parasites and symbionts offer many interesting prospects for the breeding of
new crop varieties. This was not only recognized by the major seed companies,
but also by the governments of developing countries and by worldwide
foundations supporting their agriculture. The know-how gained by the seed
companies on crops important for the agricultural industry in developed
countries could easily be provided for free to the international and national
organizations dedicated to development of crops important in the third world.
Results obtained worldwide become easily available to everybody through the
scientific literature. Likewise, agricultural research in, e.g., the USA or Europe
profits from the natural plant gene pool available in the third world. All this
definitely provides for the possibility of fast change, new prosperity and
security of food supply in the whole world, if properly applied. The fast
development also asks for ethical and sociopolitical considerations, whereby
not doing the right can be as much a mistake as doing the wrong.
The first three chapters of this collection consider the ethical and
sociopolitical aspects of crop improvement. In the other six chapters experts
provide for examples on problems and modern solution for the improvement of
the major grains and other staples important for the various climate zones of the
third world. The successes and routes to obtain crops resistant to fungi, viruses,
insects, and other pests, adapted to harsh climatic and soil conditions, and of
high yield and nutritive value are described.
Contents
List of Contributors X
The Contribution of Genetic Engineering to the Fight
against Hunger in Developing Countries
K. M. Leisinger
I. Introduction 1
II. The Political Economy of Hunger 2
III. The Risks of Genetic Engineering in the Fight against Hunger 7
IV. The Benefits of Genetic Engineering in the Fight against Hunger 15
V. Building Blocks for Food Security 17
VI. Conclusion 21
VII. References 22
Networking Biotechnology Solutions with Developing Countries:
the Mission and Strategy of the International Service
for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications
A. F. Krattiger
I. Background: the Challenge 25
II. Creation of ISAAA: the Institutional Response 26
III. The Program 27
IV. Biosafety Regulatory Development: a Special Case 29
V. The Strategy 31
VI. The Organization 31
VII. And Who Benefits? 32
VIII. References 33
Socioethical and Sociopolitical Reflections on the Application
of Gene Technology in Developing Countries
H.-P. Schreiber 35
Gene Technology for Increased Rice Production
in Developing Countries
A. K16ti and 1. Potrykus
I. Introduction 39
II. Increasing Rice Production 45
VIII Contents
III. The Quality of the Rice Grain 53
IV. Conclusions 55
V. References 56
Biotechnology for Maize and Wheat Improvement in
Developing Countries: a Need, a Reality, or a Dream?
D. A. Hoisington
I. Introduction 61
II. Maize as an Important Target for Genomics 62
III. Wheat and Its Relatives as Important Targets for Genomics 63
IV. Approaches to Studying the Molecular Diversity of Maize and Wheat 63
V. Molecular Genetics of Maize 64
VI. Molecular Markers in Wheat 66
VII. Possibilities for Marker-Assisted Selection 67
VIII. Genetic-Engineering Achievements in Maize 68
IX. Genetic Engineering in Wheat 70
X. Conclusion 71
XI. References 72
Gene Transfer in Sugarcane
A.D. Arencibia
I. Introduction 79
II. Genetic Transformation 80
III. Agricultural Traits 87
IV. Industrial Traits 91
V. Somaclonal Variation and Integration of Transgenic Plants
into the Sugarcane Breeding Program 94
VI. Risk Assessments 95
VII. Conclusions 96
VIII. References 96
Gene Technology for Potato in Developing Countries
M. Ghislain, M. Bonierbale, and R. Nelson
I. Introduction 105
II. Potato Production Constraints in Less-Developed countries 107
III. Biotechnology Challenges and Opportunities 109
IV. Possible Limitations 125
V. Conclusions 129
VI. References 131
Genetic Biotechnologies and Cassava-Based Development
A. M. Thro, M. Fregene, N. Taylor, K. C. J. J. M. Raemakers,
J. Puonti-Kaerlas, C. Sch6pke, R. Visser, I. Potrykus, C. Fauquet,
W. Roca, and C. Hershey
I. Introduction: Cassava's Links to Development Objectives 142
II. The Cassava Biotechnology Network 144
Contents IX
III. Cassava Biotechnology Research Priorities Derived from Expressed Needs
of Farmers 146
IV. Cassava Biotechnology Research 149
V. Cassava Biotechnology Tools in Support of Farmer-Participatory
Research 170
VI. Implications of Cassava Biotechnology Research for the Second
Green Revolution 172
VII. Conclusion 173
VIII. References 175
Underresearched Tropical Food Crops:
Cowpea, Banana and Plantain, and Yams
R. Asiedu, C. A. Fatokun, J. H. D. Mignouna, S. Y. C. Ng,
EM. Quin, and D.R. Vuylsteke
I. Introduction 187
II. Cowpea 188
III. Banana and Plantain 194
IV. Yams 201
V. Conclusion 208
VI. References 210
List of Contributors
Arencibia, Ariel D., Centro de Ingenieria Genetica y Biotechnologia, POB 6162, Havanna
10600, Cuba
Asiedu, Robert, Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,
Ibadan, Nigeria
Bonierbale, Merideth, Centro Internacional de la Papa, POB 1558, Lima, Peru
Fatokun, Christian A., Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
Fauquet, Claude, International Laboratory for Tropical Agricultural Biology, lnstitut
Francais de Recherche Scientifique pour Ie Developpement en Cooperation, La Jolla, CA
92037, U.S.A.
Fregene, Martin, Agrobiodiversity Project, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical,
km 17, Recta Cali-Palmira, Apdo aereo 6713, Cali, Colombia
Ghislain, Marc, Centro Internacional de la Papa, POE 1558, Lima, Peru
Hershey, Clair, Consultant, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, km 17 Recta Cali
Palmira, Apdo aereo 6713, Cali, Colombia
Hoisington, David A., Centro lnternacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo, Apdo 6-641,
Lisboa 27, 06600 Mexico, DF, Mexico
KlOti, Andreas, Institute for Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich,
Universitatsstrasse 2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Krattiger, Anatole E, International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications,
260 Emerson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, U.S.A.
Leisinger, Klaus M., Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, CH-4002 Basel,
Switzerland
Mignouna, Jacob H. D., Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
Nelson, Rebecca, Centro Internacional de la Papa, POB 1558, Lima, Peru
Ng, S. Yong C., Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,
lbadan, Nigeria
Potrykus, Ingo, Institute for Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich,
Universitatsstrasse 2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Puonti-Kaerlas, Johanna, Institute for Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Zurich, Universitatsstrasse 2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Quin, E Margaret, Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
Raemakers, Krit C. J. 1. M., Plant Breeding Department, Agricultural University of
Wageningen, 6700 HB Wageningen, Netherlands
Rocca, William, Agrobiodiversity Project, Centro Internacional de Agric\lltura Tropical, km
17 Recta Cali-Palmira, Apdo aereo 6713, Cali, Colombia
Schopke, Christian, International Laboratory for Tropical Agricultural Biology, Institut
Francais de Recherche Scientifique pour Ie Developpement en Cooperation, La Jolla, CA
92037, U.S.A.
Schreiber, Hans-Peter, Humanwissenschaften, ETH Zentrum, CH-8092 Zurich,
Switzerland