Academic literature on the topic 'Social aspects of Plant genetic engineering'

Food security and environmental issues have become global crises that need transformative solutions. As livestock production is becoming less sustainable, alternative sources of proteins are urgently required. These include cultured meat, plant-based meat, insect protein and single-cell protein. Here, we describe the food safety aspects of these novel protein sources, in terms of their technological backgrounds, environmental impacts and the necessary regulatory framework for future mass-scale production. Briefly, cultured meat grown in fetal bovine serum-based media can be exposed to viruses or infectious prion, in addition to other safety risks associated with the use of genetic engineering. Plant-based meat may contain allergens, anti-nutrients and thermally induced carcinogens. Microbiological risks and allergens are the primary concerns associated with insect protein. Single-cell protein sources are divided into microalgae, fungi and bacteria, all of which have specific food safety risks that include toxins, allergens and high ribonucleic acid (RNA) contents. The environmental impacts of these alternative proteins can mainly be attributed to the production of growth substrates or during cultivation. Legislations related to novel food or genetic modification are the relevant regulatory framework to ensure the safety of alternative proteins. Lastly, additional studies on the food safety aspects of alternative proteins are urgently needed for providing relevant food governing authorities with sufficient data to oversee that the technological progress in this area is balanced with robust safety standards.

Significant yield reduction and effect on almost every aspect of the plants by insect pests have been a mega problem in agricultural crops. Scientist tackle with many challenges to develop highly efficient techniques either through conventional breeding or modern genetic engineering to understand the mechanism of resistance and its application for benefit of human kind. Antibiosis, antixenosis and tolerance are the resistance mechanisms which have been developed for successful control of economically important insect pests in corn. Plant morphology and allelochemicals, induced resistance, callus tissue culture and genetic transformation were used as major tools to advance resistance by corn breeders. Insect pest resistant corn has been attributed for social, economical as well as environmental benefits. However, outcome of these achievements are not reflected due to low use of insect resistant corn by farmers in many developing countries of the world.

Agricultural Sciences is an Applied Science but has its touch with social science due to its nature. It uses various kinds of tools, techniques, procedure, methods, principles of science; that is responsible for the cultivation of plants, crops, vegetables, livestock as well as animals. Agriculture is dedicated to the sedentary human civilization and by this people can meet their food demand. As far as the history of agriculture it is noted that agriculture as a concept emerged thousands of years before about 105,000 years ago and regarding the nascent farmers, it was about 11,500 years ago. Initially, animals were not considered within this but gradually various animals such as pigs, sheep and cattle became part of agricultural sciences since 10, 000 years ago. Farming normally considered as the cultivation in a small area whereas Agriculture is treated for a large area with huge place and expenditure. In today’s context, about 11 regions of the world are cultivating commercially. Agriculture as an interdisciplinary field is concerned with various disciplines and subjects; and this trend is growing rapidly. There are diverse areas and emerging nomenclatures emerged in Agriculture viz. Chemical Agriculture, Green revolution & Agriculture, Genetic engineering-based Agriculture, Organic Agriculture /Farming, Corporate Agriculture /Farming, Vertical Farming /Agriculture, etc. This paper is theoretical and empirical in nature. It analyzed various aspects of agriculture with special reference to the aspects, features, role, and emergence of three emerging types of agriculture viz. Organic Agriculture.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision support tool for risk-based maintenance scheduling for a large heavily equipped gas sweetening unit in a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant. Two conflicting objectives, i.e., total maintenance cost and the reliability, are considered in the tool. The tool is tested with the real plant data and suggests several Pareto-optimal schedules for a decision maker to choose from. The financial impacts are assessed. Design/methodology/approach A bi-objective scheduling optimization model is developed for maintenance scheduling using a risk-based framework. The model is developed integrating genetic algorithm and simulation-based optimization to find Pareto-optimal schedules. The model delivered true Pareto front optimal solutions for given plant-specific data. The two conflicting objectives: the minimization of total expenditures incurred on maintenance-related activities and improving the total reliability are considered. Findings For large and complex processing facilities such as LNG plant, a shutdown of facility generates a significant financial impact, resulting in millions of dollars in production loss. The developed risk-based equipment selection strategy helps to minimize such an event of production loss by generating a thorough maintenance strategy for inspection, repair, overhaul or replacement schedule of the unit without initiating the shutdown. The proposed model has been successfully applied to obtain an optimize maintenance schedule for a gas sweetening unit. Research limitations/implications A future work may consider the state-dependent models for various failure modes that will result in obtaining a better representation of the model. The proposed scheduling can further be extended to multi-criteria scheduling including availability, resource limitation and inflationary condition. A comparative analysis with other meta-heuristic techniques such as harmony search algorithm, tabu search, and simulated annealing will further help in confirming the schedule obtained from this application. Practical implications Maintenance scheduling using a conventional approach for special equipment generally does not consider the conflicting objectives. This research addresses this aspect using a bi-objective model. The usefulness of risk-based method is to assist in minimizing the financial and safety risk exposure to the operating companies, but some variation in results is expected due to varying risk matrix for different organizations. Social implications Managing two objectives, i.e., minimizing the cost of maintenance-related activities, while at the same time maximizing the overall reliability dramatically, helps in mitigating adverse safety and financial risk due to fires, explosions, fatality and excessive maintenance cost. Originality/value Research develops a decision support tool for managing conflicting objectives for an LNG process. This research highlights the impact of utilizing the simulation-based approach coupled with risk-based equipment selection for complex processing unit or plant maintenance scheduling optimization.

The role and status of Patent laws in the protection of plant species which have been genetically modified is currently uncertain in India. Discussions and debates regarding the same are rife and experts have different views regarding the whole aspect concerning economical and ethical considerations. Genetically engineered plants and modified crop plants are of significant economic value. In India, they face critical challenges, for instance, the requirement of dependable public policies and vigorous frameworks for regulatory control. This becomes much more vital since India desires to be an economic superpower primarily based on innovation. It is very important for a person from the legal field, especially those interested in the field of IPR, to have clarity regarding the protection of genetically modified plants. This humble attempt at a research paper seeks to clarify the same and discusses the various aspects on which one should think while concluding their views on the topic.

The ArgumentMuslims share with others both the interest in and the concern about genetic engineering. Naturally their reactions and views stem from general Islamic dogma and from Islamic medical ethics, but they are not unaware of Western scientific data. Particularly relevant is the Islamic religious prohibition against “changing what Allah has created.” Muslim muftis try to offer practical solutions for individuals. Islamic law is concerned about maintaining pure lineage. Consanguineous matings are very common, but induced abortions are usually ruled out. Cloning has reawakened among Muslims an old debate over the positive as well as hazardous aspects of genetic engineering.

When God gave humankind dominion over the earth he may not have known exactly what we would be able to do with it. The technical capacities to which the production and reproduction of our everyday life have given rise have grown at an astonishing and, it seems, ever-increasing rate. The instruments that we use to do work on the world have become sharper and more refined, and the implications of human interventions in the nonhuman environment are much more far-reaching than could have been imagined even forty years ago. It has become something of a cliche to say that our technical abilities have outstripped the wisdom to know when, where, and how we should appropriately use them, but techniques such as genetic engineering invite the dusting-off of the cliche and the asking of the question implicit in it: We know we can splice genes, but should we splice them? We might of course come to the conclusion that we should only splice some of them some of the time, but even arriving at that conclusion presupposes that the ethical question has been asked and answered.

There are many technologies being developed for crop breeding. Two interesting technologies are genetic modification and genetic editing. Competitive pressures and changing consumer preferences are forcing organizations to invest heavily in these two technologies. Organizations must decide which traits they want to target and must commit significant time a money to the project. Traditionally, firms would decide which project to embark on if the project is net present value positive. Throughout the research and development process managers have flexibility to abandon the project once new information is received. That flexibility has value and real option analysis must be performed to value that flexibility. Once the value of a GM and GE project is determined, how might an organization decide which project to do? The concept of minimum required acreage (MRA) is developed in this study, allowing organizations to compare GM and GE technologies and decide which project to invest it.

Thesis (PhD (Agric)) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Stripe (yellow) rust of wheat, caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, was first detected as a single introduction into South Africa in 1996. Two additional pathotypes have since been identified. Control of the disease may be achieved by use of genetic adult plant resistance (APR) as is present in the local cultivar 'Kariega'. The aim of this project was to understand the genetic basis of the APR in 'Kariega' to facilitate breeding of new varieties with genetic resistance to stripe rust. A partial linkage map of a 'Kariega X Avocet S' doubled haploid population covering all 21 wheat chromosomes was generated using 208 DNA markers, viz, 62 SSR, 133 AFLP, 3 RGA and 10 SRAP markers, and 4 alternative loci. The different marker techniques detected varying polymorphism, viz, overall SSR: 46%, AFLP: 7%, SRAP: 6% and RGA: 9%, and the markers produced low levels of missing data (4%) and segregation distortion (5%). A significant feature of the linkage map was the low polymorphism found in the D genome, viz, 19% of all mapped DNA markers, 11% of all AFLP markers and 30% of the total genome map distance. A region exhibiting significant segregation distortion was mapped to chromosome 4A and a seedling resistance gene for stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp . tritici), Sr26, mapped to chromosome 6A close to three SSR markers. The leaf tip necrosis gene, Ltn, which was also segregating in the population, mapped to chromosome 7D. Protocols for SRAP and RGA were optimised, and SRAP marker use in wheat genetic linkage studies is reported for the first time. The linkage map was used together with growth chamber and replicated field disease scores for QTL mapping. Chromosomes showing statistically significant QTL effects were then targeted with supplementary SSR markers for higher resolution mapping. The quality of disease resistance phenotypic data was confirmed by correlation analysis between the different scorers for reaction type (0.799±0.023) and for transformed percentage leaf area infected (0.942±0.007). Major QTL were consistently identified on chromosome 7D (explaining some 25-48% of the variation) and on chromosome 2B (21-46%) using transformed percentage leaf area infected and transformed reaction type scores (early and final) with interval mapping and modified interval mapping techniques. Both chromosomal regions have previously been identified in other studies and the 7D QTL is thought likely to be the previously mapped APR gene Yr 18. Minor QTL were identified on chromosomes lA and 4A with the QTL on 4A being more prominent at the early field scoring for both score types. A QTL evidently originating from 'Avocet S' was detected under growth chamber conditions but was not detected in the field, suggesting genotype-environment interaction and highlighting the need for modifications of growth chamber conditions to better simulate conditions in the field. The genetic basis of the APR to stripe rust exhibited by 'Kariega' was established by mapping of QTL controlling this trait. The linkage map constructed will be a valuable resource for future genetic studies and provides a facility for mapping other polymorphic traits in the parents of this population with a considerable saving in costs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Streep of geelroes van koring word veroorsaak deur Puccinia striiformis f. sp tritici, en is die eerste keer in 1996 in Suid-Afrika na introduksie van 'n enkele patotipe waargeneem. Twee verdere patotipes is sedertdien in Suid-Afrika gei"dentifiseer. Beheer van die siekte word veral moontlik gemaak deur die gebruik van genetiese volwasseplantweerstand soos gei"dentifiseer in die plaaslike kultivar 'Kariega'. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die genetiese grondslag van die streeproesweerstand te ontrafel ten einde die teling van nuwe bestande kultivars moontlik te maak. 'n Verdubbelde haplo1ede populasie uit die kruising 'Kariega X Avocet S' is aangewend om 'n gedeeltelike koppelingskaart vir die volle stel van 21 koring chromosome saam te stel. Die kaart het uit 208 DNA merkers, nl., 62 SSR, 133 AFLP, 3 RGA, 10 SRAP merkers en 4 ander lokusse bestaan. Totale polimorfisme wat deur die verskillende merkersisteme opgespoor is, was as volg: SSR: 46%, RGA: 9%, AFLP: 7% en SRAP: 6%. Die mate van ontbrekende data was gering (4%) asook die mate van segregasie distorsie (5%) van 'n enkele geval wat op chromosoom 4A gekarteer is. 'n Prominente kenmerk van die koppelingskaart is die relatiewe gebrek aan polimorfiese merkers op die D-genoom, nl., slegs 19% van alle DNA merkers en 11% van alle AFLP merkers wat slegs 30% van die totale genoom kaartafstand bestaan het. Die stamroes (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) saailingweerstandsgeen, Sr26, karteer op chromosoom 6A naby drie SSR merkers. Die geen vir blaartipnekrose, Ltn, karteer op chromosoom 7D. Protokolle vir SRAP en RGA merkers is ge-optimiseer en gebruik van SRAP merkers in koppelings-analise word vir die eerste keer in koring gerapporteer. Die koppelingskaart is in kombinasie met groeikamerdata en gerepliseerde veldproefdata gebruik om die gene (QTL) vir volwasseplant streeproesweerstand te karteer. Chromosome met statisties betekenisvolle QTL is met aanvullende SSR merkers geteiken om die resolusie van kartering verder te verhoog. Die kwaliteit van fenotipiese data, soos in die proewe aangeteken, is bevestig deur korrelasies te bereken tussen lesings geneem deur onafhanklike plantpataloe (0.799 ± 0.023 vir reaksietipe en 0.942 ± 0.007 vir getransformeerde persentasie blaaroppervlakte besmet). Hoofeffek QTL vir die twee maatstawwe van weerstand is deur middel van die metodes van interval QTL kartering en gemodifiseerde interval QTL kartering konsekwent op chromosome 7D (25-48% van variasie verklaar) en 2B (21-46% van variasie verklaar) ge"identifiseer. In vorige studies is aangetoon dat beide chromosome 7D en 2B QTL vir volwasseplant streeproesweerstand dra. Die 7D QTL is waarskynlik die weerstandsgeen, Yr 18. QTL met klein effekte op weerstand is op chromosome lA en 4A ge"identifiseer. Die effek van laasgenoemde geen was meer prominent in die velddata in die vroee datum van weerstandsbeoordeling. Een QTL, afkomstig van 'Avocet S', is slegs onder groeikamertoestande identifiseerbaar. Dit dui op moontlike genotipe-omgewing wisselwerking en beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid om aanpassings te maak in groeikamertoestande vir beter simulasie van veldproeftoestande. Die genetiese grondslag van volwasseplantweerstand teen streeproes in die kultivar 'Kariega' is deur QTL kartering bepaal. Die 'Kariega X Avocet S' koppelingskaart kan as 'n waardevolle basis dien vir toekomstige genetiese ontledings van ander polimorfiese kenmerke in die populasie.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plant-pathogen interactions have been intensively investigated in the last decade. This major drive towards understanding the fundamental aspects involved in plant disease resistance is propelled by the obvious agricultural and economical benefits that are intrinsically linked to disease and stress resistant plants. It is, therefore, not surprising that fundamental research in this area is not just restricted to model organisms, such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, but also extends to more traditional crop plants, such as maize, bean, soybean, apples, grapevine etc. In grapevine for instance, several genes involved in disease resistance have been isolated. One of these genes, encoding for a polygalacturonase inhibiting protein (PGIP), has been studied extensively. PGIPs are cell wall bound, contain leucine rich repeats (LRR) and are found in all dicotyledonous plants so far examined. In most cases, pgip genes occur in small multigene families and expression is often tissue specific and developmentally regulated. Up-regulation of PGIP-encoding genes typically occurs upon pathogen infection, treatment with elicitors, salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), cold treatment and wounding. Differential regulation and specificity have been shown to occur between members of the same multigene family. Differential regulation even extends to the utilization of separate pathways to induce pgip genes from the same family in response to a single stress stimulus. PGIPs interact with cell wall macerating polygalacturonases (PGs) that are secreted by pathogenic fungi during the infection process. The antifungal action of PGIPs is thought to depend on a dual action. The physical interaction of PGIP with PGs has an inhibitionary effect, resulting in (i) a slower fungal infection rate and (ii) the prolonged existence of long chain oligogalacturonides (OGs). These oligosaccharides are able to elicit a general plant defense response, enabling the plant to further retard or curb the spread of infection. The main objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory aspects underlying PGIP expression in grapevine. Unlike most characterized PGIP encoding genes from other dicotyledonous plant species, no evidence to support the existence of a V. vinifera PGIP multigene family could be found from either genetic or biochemical analyses. Recently, a genomic DNA fragment from Vitis vinifera cv Pinotage was pathogen interactions with regards to the fundamental processes underlying defense gene regulation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ooglopende voordele wat, vanuit 'n landboukundige én ekonomiese oogpunt, uit siekte- en stresbestande plante spruit, het gedurende die laaste dekade aanleiding gegee tot die ontwikkeling van plantpatogeen-interaksies as "n baie belangrike studieveld. Dit was dus ook te verwagte dat fundamentele navorsing in hierdie area nie net beperk gebly het tot modelorganismes soos Arabidopsis en tabak (ook natuurlik van landboukundige belang) nie, maar ook na meer tradisionele landbougewasse soos mielies, boontjies, sojaboontjies, appels, druiwe, ens. oorgevloei het. Verskeie siekteweerstands-verwante gene is byvoorbeeld al vanuit wingerd geïsoleer. Een só "n geen wat vir "n poligalakturonase-inhiberende proteïen (PGIP) kodeer, vorm deel van hierdie groep gene. Die funksie en regulering van PGIP's is baie goed bestudeer. Hierdie proteïene word normaalweg in die selwande van die meeste dikotiele plante aangetref. Leusienryke herhalings is algemeen in PGIP's en hierdie tipe van herhalings is kenmerkend van proteïene betrokke by proteïen-proteïen-interaksies. Verder word pgip-gene gewoonlik in klein multigeenfamilies aangetref, waar in die meeste gevalle die uitdrukking weefselspesifiek en die regulering spesifiek ten opsigte van die ontwikkelingsfase is. Verskeie faktore kan tot die induksie van pgip-gene lei, soos onder andere patogeen-infeksie, elisitoor-, salisiensuur-, jasmoonsuur- en kouebehandeling, asook verwonding. Differensiële regulering word in baie gevalle tussen lede van dieselfde multigeenfamilie aangetref. Hierdie differensiële regulering kan selfs bemiddel word deur onafhanklike reguleringsweë in reaksie op dieselfde induksiestimulus. PGIP's is in staat om te reageer met poligalakturonases (PGs), wat selwande afbreek en wat gedurende die infeksieproses deur swamme of fungi afgeskei word. Die effek van hierdie interaksie is tweeledig: (i) Die fisiese interaksie tussen PGIP en PG moduleer die aktiwiteit van die PG deur die ensiemaksie te inhibeer, en (ii) PGinhibisie lei tot die verhoogde stabiliteit van langketting-oligogalakturonades, molekules wat daartoe in staat is om die weerstandsrespons van plante te ontlok. Die inhibisie van die patogeen-PG's, tesame met die geïnduseerde weerstandrespons, stel die plant dan in staat om verdere infeksie te vertraag of te verhoed. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die onderliggende aspekte van PGIPregulering in wingerd te bestudeer. In teenstelling met die meeste plantspesies waar pgip-gene in klein multigeenfamilies aangetref word, is daar nie 'n pgip-multigeenfamilie in wingerd nie. Veelvuldige kopieë van In enkele pgip-geen word egter in die wingerdgenoom aangetref. Daar is onlangs in ons laboratorium In genoom-DNAfragment vanaf Vitis vinifera cv Pinotage geïsoleer wat die oopleesraam en 5'-stroomopsekwense van In PGIP-enkoderende geen (Vvpgip1) bevat. In hierdie studie is die uitdrukkingspatroon van Vvpgip1 ten opsigte van weefselspesifisiteit, korrelontwikkelingsfase, asook die effek van verskeie omgewings en patogeenverwante stres-stimuli ontleed. Die regulatoriese meganismes van Vvpgip1 bevat spesifieke in planta-ontwikkelingsfaseseine wat verder deur spesifieke faktore, insluitende omgewings- en patogeenstres, gereguleer word. In lyn hiermee is mRNS-transkripte van Vvpgip1 tot wortel- en korrelweefsels beperk, terwyl die mRNS-vlakke ook tussen verskillende korrelontwikkelingsfases wissel. Kumulatiewe uitdrukking kon waargeneem word in veráison-korrels in reaksie op verwonding en osmotiese stres. Die weefselspesifieke uitdrukkingspatroon tipies van wingerd-PGIP is in blare opgehef in reaksie op Botrytis cinerea-infeksie, verwonding, osmotiese stres, ouksien (indoolasynsuur) en salisiensuur. PGIP-uitdrukking word ook onderdruk deur In staurosporien-sensitiewe proteïenkinase, wat In goeie aanduiding is van die betrokkenheid van proteïenfosforilasie in die seintransduksiekaskade wat tot PGIPuitdrukking aanleiding gee. Die geïnduseerde PGIP-uitdrukkingsprofiel in wingerdblare kan ook nageboots word in tabak wat met die Vvpgip1-geen en -promotor getransformeer is. PG-inhibisie-eksperimente met membraan-geassosieerde proteïenekstrakte van geïnduseerde wingerdblare het ook dieselfde profiel getoon as dié van PGIP wat deur die Vvpgip1-geen geënkodeer is. Die uitdrukkingsprofiel van PGIP in die transgeniese tabakplante het ook bewys dat die promotor van die Vvpgip1-geen vir die geïnduseerde PGIP-uitdrukkingsprofiel in wingerdblare verantwoordelik is. In silica-analise van die promotorarea dui op die teenwoordigheid van verskeie cis-werkende elemente. Die kern promotor en transkripsie-aanvangsgedeelte is gevolglik eksperimenteel bepaal. Verder het uitdrukkingseksperimente met promotorfragmente verskeie dele van die promotor geïdentifiseer wat by stimulis-geassosieerde uitdrukking betrokke is. Posisioneel is hierdie fragmente in goeie konteks met die voorspelde cis-werkende elemente en kan dus die basis vorm vir verdere studies oor Vvpgip-regulering. Met hierdie studie word die eerste data verskaf waar die regulering van PGIP deur omgewingsverwante faktore verbind kan word met onwikkelingspesifieke toestande in die plant. Verder verskaf die resultate verdere bewyse vir die rol van PGIP in plant-patogeen-interaksies en lewer spesifieke bydraes tot die onderliggende prosesse wat by die regulering van siekteweerstandverwante gene betrokke is.

Some aspects of the presence of systemic endophytic fungi in agriculturally important New Zealand grasses were studied in relation to plant breeding. Seedling resistance to adult Argentine stem weevil feeding in perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass and tall fescue was found to be related to the presence of their respective Acremonium endophytes in the seed rather than to plant genetic resistance. In addition a study of perennial ryegrass revealed that this resistance was independent of endophyte viability. The seedling resistance conferred by the endophyte of Italian ryegrass was found to be beneficial for field establishment. This endophyte differs from that in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in that it does not confer resistance to Argentine stem weevil on mature plants, but only on seedlings. The extent of plant genetic seedling tolerance to adult Argentine stem weevil feeding was limited to broad inter-specific differences, with tall fescue more tolerant than perennial ryegrass and both of these more tolerant than Italian ryegrass. This ranking corresponds with previous observations on feeding preference on mature plants. A study of factors affecting the concentration of endophyte mycelia in infected seed of perennial ryegrass revealed that plant genetic factors had little effect. The major factors studied were: 1) the endophyte concentration in the maternal parent plant directly influenced the endophyte concentration in the seed. 2) nitrogen fertilizer applications to a seed crop reduced the concentration of mycelia in the seed, with earlier applications having a greater effect. 3) application of the fungicide propiconazole (Tilt) to a seed crop reduced the endophyte concentration in the seed. 4) the endophyte concentration in the seed was found to directly influence the endophyte concentration in seedlings, six month old plants and that of seed harvested from a first year seed crop. As there have been no previous reports of tetraploid perennial ryegrass cultivars with endophyte an experiment was conducted to determine if these could be developed by the standard procedure of colchicine treatment. The results revealed that endophyte was retained following colchicine treatment.

Isolates of Monilinia fructicola (Wint.) Honey obtained from stone fruit orchards in Hawkes Bay, North Island and from Californian fruit exported to New Zealand, were tested for resistance to methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MBC). Resistant isolates from the North Island had EC₅₀ values of >30,000, and most isolates from the imported fruit had of values approximately 1.5 mg a.i./l carbendazim. Sensitive isolates failed to grow on 1 mg a.i./l carbendazim. A detached peach shoot system was used in controlled conditions for estimation of values for incubation period, latent period and rate of spore production on flowers (cv Glohaven). The same variables and the rate of colonisation of host tissue were measured on fruit (cv Fantasia) in controlled conditions. An inoculum density of 1x10⁴ spore/flower or fruit greatly increased fitness in vivo compared to an inoculum density of 1x10² spore/flower (fruit). Isolates varied considerably, but there was no consistent relationship between the degrees of resistance and fitness. This was in contrast to earlier studies with dicarboximide resistant strains of M. fructicola. The survival in the field of 10 isolates resistant or sensitive to MBC or dicarboximide fungicides on twig cankers and mummified fruit was compared. The ability to produce conidia on twig cankers inoculated in late spring 1989 was maintained by all sensitive and MBC resistant isolates for at least 1 year. The production of conidia on mummified fruit inoculated in February 1990 decreased after 2-3 months in the field but some conidia were still produced on all fruit in the following spring. Dicarboximide resistant isolates produced less conidia than either the MBC resistant and the sensitive isolates. The pathogenicity and fitness of all isolates were similar to the original values after survival for 1 year. A technique was developed to produce apothecia reliably from inoculated peach (cv Black Boy) and nectarine (cv Fantasia) fruit in controlled conditions in the laboratory. The fruit were inoculated with resistant or sensitive isolates, or combinations, and were incubated for 8 weeks at 25°C (±1°C) with 12 hours photoperiod of fluorescent light (Sylvania 2x65 W, daylight) to produce mummified fruit. The fruit were then buried in moist autoclaved peat moss for 10 weeks at 25°C (±1°C) in the dark to form stromata. These fruit were then hydrated with running tap-water (total hardness (CaCO₃) = 47 g/m³ and conductivity at 20°C = 12.7 mS/m) for 72 hours. The hydrated mummified fruit were placed in moist peat moss and were incubated for 13-14 weeks at 8°C (±0.5°C) in the dark. At the end of this period, stipe initials were visible. Differentiation of stipe initials into mature apothecia occurred within 15-20 days after transfer to 12°C (±2 °C) with a 12 hour photoperiod of fluorescent and incandescent light. All isolates produced apothecia when treated in this way. A technique for isolation of ascospore sets in linear arrangement was developed for tetrad analysis of the inheritance of resistance. At least 3 hours of fluorescent and incandescent light at 12°C (±2°C) was essential to allow ascospore ejection from individual asci taken from apothecia previously maintained in a 12 hour photoperiod at 12°C (±1°C). A water film on the surface of water agar was necessary to hold a set of ejected ascospores in linear sequence. Single ascospores were obtained in sequence with the aid of a micromanipulator. Genetic analysis of MBC resistant isolates was carried out on ascospores derived from apothecia produced in the laboratory. Analysis of ascospore sets in linear arrangement and ascospore populations indicated that resistance to >30,000 mg a.i./l carbendazim (high-resistant) is governed by a single major gene and is affected by gene conversion mechanisms. Crossing over was frequent, suggesting that recombination of resistance with other characters, such as pathogenicity and fitness, may occur readily. The segregation ratio (1:1) from most resistant isolates revealed that heterokaryons containing both resistant and sensitive alleles were common in resistant populations and that resistance is dominant. Allozyme analysis of ascospore progeny through electrophoresis revealed a narrow genetic base of M. fructicola in New Zealand. The technique for reliable apothecial production in controlled conditions developed in this study provided an important step for the determination of the biology of M. fructicola strains resistant to MBC fungicides, and the complexity of its life cycle. Genetic heterogeneity in field populations can be conserved in one isolate through heterokaryosis, thus providing for adaptability of the pathogen to the changing environmental conditions. Knowledge on genetic variability, overwintering ability, pathogenicity and fitness factors may be useful for future management strategies of stone fruit brown rot. Special emphasis should be made in particular to prevent primary infection on blossoms, which would delay the establishment of recombinant strains of M. fructicola and the onset of brown rot epidemics.

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA) (Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) is one of the important insect pests of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and other grasses. To date, there are four RWA biotypes identified in South Africa. The virulent biotypes emerged, partly due to climate change and new genetic variations within populations of RWA; hence there is a need to improve host-plant resistance, as an effective control measure. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accession Cereal Introduction (CItr) 2401 is known to be resistant to all RWA biotypes worldwide. The goal of this study was to use a backcrossed near-isogenic line (NIL) BC5F5 mapping population, developed from a cross between CItr 2401 and susceptible Kavkaz, to identify and validate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers linked to the resistance phenotype in CItr 2401. This was achieved by (i) conducting a preliminary study that evaluated the suitability of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers previously reported in literature for discriminating stacked RWA resistance genes and, (ii) employing SNP markers for the first time in a RWA resistance study as a future alternative to the widely used SSR markers. None of the tested SSR markers showed potential use in marker-assisted selection (MAS). The mapping population was phenotypically evaluated for RWA resistance using the four South African biotypes, viz. RWASA1, RWASA2, RWASA3 and RWASA4. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant (P<0.001) differences of genotypes after confirming the normality of residuals and homogeneity of variance. The Illumina iSelect 9,000 wheat SNP platform was used to genotype the two crossing parents and a selection of 24 NIL genotypes from the mapping population. Eight SNP markers found to be linked to the phenotype were converted to breeder-friendly and high-throughput Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers. The designed KASP markers were validated on the two crossing parents, the 24 NIL sent for SNP genotyping, on the mapping population and on the preliminary study genotypes for their effectiveness. The KASP assays developed in this study will be useful for stacking the RWA resistance from CItr 2401 with other Dn genes effective against the RWA.
Life and Consumer Sciences
M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Abstract Since the beginning of agriculture, plant virus diseases have been a strong challenge for farming. Following its discovery at the very beginning of the 1990s, the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism has been widely studied and exploited as an integrative tool to obtain resistance to viruses in several plant species, with high target-sequence specificity. In this chapter, we describe and review the major aspects of host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), as one of the possible plant defence methods, using genetic engineering techniques. In particular, we focus our attention on the use of RNAi-based gene constructs to introduce stable resistance in host plants against viral diseases, by triggering post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). Recently, spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), consisting of the topical application of small RNA molecules to plants, has been explored as an alternative tool to the stable integration of RNAi-based gene constructs in plants. SIGS has great and innovative potential for crop defence against different plant pathogens and pests and is expected to raise less public and political concern, as it does not alter the genetic structure of the plant.

Abstract Since the beginning of agriculture, plant virus diseases have been a strong challenge for farming. Following its discovery at the very beginning of the 1990s, the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism has been widely studied and exploited as an integrative tool to obtain resistance to viruses in several plant species, with high target-sequence specificity. In this chapter, we describe and review the major aspects of host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), as one of the possible plant defence methods, using genetic engineering techniques. In particular, we focus our attention on the use of RNAi-based gene constructs to introduce stable resistance in host plants against viral diseases, by triggering post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). Recently, spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), consisting of the topical application of small RNA molecules to plants, has been explored as an alternative tool to the stable integration of RNAi-based gene constructs in plants. SIGS has great and innovative potential for crop defence against different plant pathogens and pests and is expected to raise less public and political concern, as it does not alter the genetic structure of the plant.

AbstractGlobal warming has emerged as a major challenge to development and human wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. Periodic incidents show that this challenge will continue and increase in impact on all aspects of natural resources – agriculture, ecosystems services, biodiversity depletion, environmental degradation and human health. Recognizing the enormous potential of underutilized plant genetic resources (PGRs) is crucial as sources of solutions to a number of these threatening challenges emanating from climate change (food and nutrition insecurity, genetic erosion, loss of agro-biodiversity, green job growth and income generation) cannot be over-emphasized. Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex. A. Rich) Harms., commonly known as African yam bean (AYB) belonging to the leguminous Fabaceae, is an underutilized PGR with rich portfolio which could serve as vital source of robust adaption and resilient germplasm for vulnerable local communities in Nigeria. Its substantial nutritional, environmental, cultural, social, medicinal, industrial and soil restorative potentials underpins its position as climate – smart species. Enhancing the potentials of African yam bean via robust innovative approaches for wider utilization through accelerated research, farmer seed exchanges, in-situ and ex-situ conservations, farmers selection, and policy programs such as seed sovereignty will accentuate its adaptation and used as resilient climate –smart species for the vulnerable groups in Nigeria to cushion impact of climate change.

Abstract This chapter discusses (i) the importance of nitrogen in plant growth and development, (ii) what is nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and how to manage it, (iii) traits influencing nitrogen-uptake efficiency including root system architecture, root nitrogen transporter system, and interaction with microorganisms, (iv) traits influencing nitrogen-utilization efficiency, such as nitrate assimilation, canopy photosynthesis per unit of nitrogen, (v) identification and use of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to NUE, (vi) identification of nitrogen-responsive genes, and (vii) nitrogen signalling and transduction for improving NUE. Intensive research on molecular and genetic aspects of NUE has led to the identification of many new genes, QTLs and alleles that could be deployed to develop new genotypes. The future direction of the research efforts should be towards understanding the interaction of NUE-related genes with cellular small RNA flux and perturbing the system performance through metabolic engineering and genome editing techniques.

In assessing the ethical implications of genomics and biotechnology, it is important to acknowledge that science, technology, and bioethics do not exist in a vacuum and are not socially, politically and ethically neutral. Certain technologies have a greater social impact, may require the State to intervene in the private sphere, and may be differentially accessible to users. Also, science and technology can change our relationship with other people and with our environment. Hence the importance of ethnographic, historical, and cross-cultural studies for the analysis of today’s thorniest bioethical controversies. This chapter discusses some of the most controversial issues surrounding the use of genetic technology in human procreation and gene patenting, including eugenics, genetic consumerism, animal-human hybrids (chimeras), the commodification of life, disability and genetic testing.

Progress in biomedical sciences and engineering will take mankind closer to a world without disease. The objective of this chapter is to review and forecast research and technologies that contribute to eliminating all diseases. In addition to improved traditional therapeutics such as medicinal chemicals, antibiotics, vaccines, and antibodies, DNA and RNA therapeutics will play key roles in addressing genetic, infectious, and chronic diseases by decreasing disease facilitating proteins or increasing disease suppressing proteins. Nanorobots will find and treat thrombosis and vascular stenosis caused by lipid deposits in the intima of arteries, as well as remove diseased tissues and repair injured tissues. Nanorobots will be much less invasive than keyhole surgical operations, and patients need almost no time to recover from their nanorobotic procedures. Thorough understanding of regeneration and repair mechanisms of injured tissues may make it feasible to regenerate injured or aged tissues and organs and to transplant organs grown in vitro.

This chapter bridges the dilemma created by intrusive surveillance technologies needed to safeguard people's security and the potential negative consequences such technologies might have on individual privacy. It begins by highlighting recent tensions between concerns for privacy and security. Next, it notes the increasing threat to human life posed by emerging technologies (e.g., genetic engineering and nanotechnology). The chapter then turns to a potential technological means to mitigate some of this threat, namely ubiquitous microscopic sensors. One consequence of the deployment of such technology appears to be an erosion of personal privacy on a scale hitherto unimaginable. It is then argued that many details of an individual's private life are actually irrelevant for security purposes and that it may be possible to develop technology to mask these details in the data gleaned from surveillance devices. Such a development could meet some, perhaps many, of the concerns about privacy. It is also argued that if it is possible to use technology to mask personal information, this may actually promote the goal of security, since it is conjectured that the public is likely to be more willing to accept invasive technology if it is designed to mask such details. Finally, some applications to society's current uses of surveillance technology are drawn. Policy recommendations for surveillance organizations such as the National Security Agency are briefly canvassed.

This chapter deals with the elaboration of a conceptual framework for agricultural cooperatives in Morocco: sustainable development of rural territories. The farming cooperative associations form an effective means for the advancement of the agricultural sector, being one of the elements of agricultural policy, which play an important role in the development of agricultural production, both plant and animal, as well as in the development process in Morocco, especially for rural development, and through it, rural income of the farmers and their social statuses. In this chapter, the authors have taken the Moroccan agriculture cooperatives as a case of cooperative longevity and survival in order to observe the evolution and processes of adaptation to the distinct economic, social, and environmental demands of a broad range of member-owners. The demands of the farming community, members, and society have resulted in social and environmental factors being as much a priority as economic aspects.

The paper analyses the perceptions of the farmers on various aspects of present as well as future vulnerability to local climate change in western Odisha, India. The changes in various climatic factors like rainfall, temperature, drought frequency and intensity during last three decades have been assessed. The farmers' experiences on hardships faced, natural and human induced causes of the changes observed have been examined. The perceptions on changes/trend in various vulnerability factors such as water availability, soil quality, early warning system, deforestation, social safety nets, institutional support system, degradation of wild life habitat, loss of wetland and water bodies, and damage to plant species etc. have been scrutinized. Besides, the future vulnerability to climate change has been assessed by ranking the vulnerability factors (economic/environmental/social/institutional) with respect to their effects during past, present and future climatic risks in the matrix form, thereby identifying the vulnerability factors posing greater threat in future. The study is based on the survey of 139 households. The study finds significant changes in behavior of climatic factors in western Odisha. The factors that are posing greater threat in future are increasing temperature and rainfall variability, frequent pest attack and plant diseases, gradual decline in grazing land and fodder availability, reduction and degradation of wild life habitat and loss of wetland and water bodies.

The CU Green, Palamanui Project Team worked to create an integrated document for the developers of Palamanui, a 725 acre community on the Big Island of Hawaii consisting of residential sections, a business park, town center, university, and hotel, regarding how the development can be more sustainable and environmental aware. The document addresses engineering issues, alongside architectural and environmental issues, including but not limited to solar generation, energy storage, plug in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), microgrids, smart architectural and landscape design, load management, waste water treatment, and the business aspects of each technology. The team worked together to combine engineering, environmental, social, architectural, and business aspects into a single overarching document recommending how the development can move towards sustainability. The following paper addresses the energy storage aspects for the Palamanui development, analyzing different technologies, operating scenarios, and financial results. Incorporating an energy-storage system in the Palamanui development is beneficial for all involved parties. Residents benefit from a more reliable grid, with increased distributed generation. The community and environment will benefit from increased solar generation and a reduction in required peak generation from HELCO, corresponding to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants. Lastly, the developers benefit because the property can be marketed as a sustainable development with a more reliable grid, thus increasing market value. The storage system can exist as a centralized plant, being a large battery bank or compressed-air-energy storage system (CAES), or the system can be distributed throughout the development as plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) or individual home batteries. Of the many energy storage methods available, three are seriously considered for the Palamanui development: sodium sulfur battery banks, lead-acid battery banks, and small-scale CAES in fabricated vessels. Battery banks and CAES operate under the same concept, drawing energy from the grid during times of low demand (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) or from excess solar generation. During times of peak demand, stored energy is discharged to the grid to meet daily loads. Of all the systems analyzed, the final recommendation is block storage distributed throughout the development using sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries. Sodium-sulfur batteries are the most appealing because of the small footprint, long lifetime, and lower lifetime cost. CAES systems with natural-gas prove to be too expensive with Hawaii’s high natural-gas prices. CAES without natural-gas has potential, but with little to no commercial testing having been done on this systems, further investigation is required and strongly recommended.