Lecture 20 - Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture | Plant Biotechnology - Botany PDF Download

 Page 1


Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
0 
             
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “ National Mission on 
Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Biotechnology 
 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
Lesson Developer: Dr. Anju Chhibbar, Dr. Vibha Gulyani Checker 
Deshbandhu college, Kirori Mal College 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
Department/College: School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South 
Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
Page 2


Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
0 
             
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “ National Mission on 
Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Biotechnology 
 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
Lesson Developer: Dr. Anju Chhibbar, Dr. Vibha Gulyani Checker 
Deshbandhu college, Kirori Mal College 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
Department/College: School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South 
Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
1 
Table of Contents      
? Introduction 
? Biotic stress resistant plants 
? Pest resistant plants 
? Bt toxin 
? Bt cotton 
? Time-line for the development and acceptance of Bt-Cotton in 
India 
? Adverse effects of Bt crops 
? Herbicide Resistant Crops 
? Roundup ready system 
? Advantages of using herbicide tolerant crops 
? Virus resistant plants 
? Resistance against bacterial and fungal pathogens 
? Abiotic stress resistant plants 
? Transgenic crops for quality traits 
? Golden Rice 
? Flavr Savr Tomato 
? Improved Horticultural Varieties 
? Moon dust carnations 
? Drawbacks of Genetically Engineered Crops  
? Summary  
? Exercise/ Practice 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web links 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 3


Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
0 
             
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “ National Mission on 
Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Biotechnology 
 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
Lesson Developer: Dr. Anju Chhibbar, Dr. Vibha Gulyani Checker 
Deshbandhu college, Kirori Mal College 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
Department/College: School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South 
Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
1 
Table of Contents      
? Introduction 
? Biotic stress resistant plants 
? Pest resistant plants 
? Bt toxin 
? Bt cotton 
? Time-line for the development and acceptance of Bt-Cotton in 
India 
? Adverse effects of Bt crops 
? Herbicide Resistant Crops 
? Roundup ready system 
? Advantages of using herbicide tolerant crops 
? Virus resistant plants 
? Resistance against bacterial and fungal pathogens 
? Abiotic stress resistant plants 
? Transgenic crops for quality traits 
? Golden Rice 
? Flavr Savr Tomato 
? Improved Horticultural Varieties 
? Moon dust carnations 
? Drawbacks of Genetically Engineered Crops  
? Summary  
? Exercise/ Practice 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web links 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
2 
Introduction 
Biotechnology employs biological systems to create useful products. It is a welcome technology in 
agriculture as it provides agricultural industry relevant varieties for unique environmental 
conditions. According to Food and agriculture organization (FAO) 2009, world population is 
expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050. To meet the increasing demand of world population, food 
production has to increase by 70%. Agriculture is affected greatly by changes in climatic conditions 
as adverse changes in environment leads to abiotic stress to plants. There is a need for sustainable 
food security, and even to increase nutritional quality of food.  
Genetic modification of plants was initially carried out using traditional methods of plant breeding.  
This was achieved by crossing two different plant varieties to develop a cultivar which possesses 
the desirable characteristics of both parent plants. But the problem in using this method is that 
along with desirable characteristics, many undesirable traits often appear in the progeny. These 
undesirable traits can be removed by time consuming additional breeding experiments. Breeders 
can further select and multiply the progeny with the desired traits.  
Page 4


Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
0 
             
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “ National Mission on 
Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Biotechnology 
 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
Lesson Developer: Dr. Anju Chhibbar, Dr. Vibha Gulyani Checker 
Deshbandhu college, Kirori Mal College 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
Department/College: School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South 
Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
1 
Table of Contents      
? Introduction 
? Biotic stress resistant plants 
? Pest resistant plants 
? Bt toxin 
? Bt cotton 
? Time-line for the development and acceptance of Bt-Cotton in 
India 
? Adverse effects of Bt crops 
? Herbicide Resistant Crops 
? Roundup ready system 
? Advantages of using herbicide tolerant crops 
? Virus resistant plants 
? Resistance against bacterial and fungal pathogens 
? Abiotic stress resistant plants 
? Transgenic crops for quality traits 
? Golden Rice 
? Flavr Savr Tomato 
? Improved Horticultural Varieties 
? Moon dust carnations 
? Drawbacks of Genetically Engineered Crops  
? Summary  
? Exercise/ Practice 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web links 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
2 
Introduction 
Biotechnology employs biological systems to create useful products. It is a welcome technology in 
agriculture as it provides agricultural industry relevant varieties for unique environmental 
conditions. According to Food and agriculture organization (FAO) 2009, world population is 
expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050. To meet the increasing demand of world population, food 
production has to increase by 70%. Agriculture is affected greatly by changes in climatic conditions 
as adverse changes in environment leads to abiotic stress to plants. There is a need for sustainable 
food security, and even to increase nutritional quality of food.  
Genetic modification of plants was initially carried out using traditional methods of plant breeding.  
This was achieved by crossing two different plant varieties to develop a cultivar which possesses 
the desirable characteristics of both parent plants. But the problem in using this method is that 
along with desirable characteristics, many undesirable traits often appear in the progeny. These 
undesirable traits can be removed by time consuming additional breeding experiments. Breeders 
can further select and multiply the progeny with the desired traits.  
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
3 
 
Figure: Generation of new cultivars using conventional breeding vs. transgenic approach. In 
transgenic approach, new genes may be incorporated from related species or unrelated organism. 
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgenesis (cc) 
 
Genetic engineering techniques enhance the capacity to access potentially important genetic 
resources present in other species or even organisms for producing more useful plants possessing 
novel or improved characters. Organisms carrying a fragment of foreign DNA in their genome are 
called genetically modified organisms, GMOs. These genetically modified organisms are also called 
transgenics. The first transgenic plant was developed in tobacco by Fraley et.al. (1983). Now there 
are more than 50 plant species (cotton, tomato, corn, brinjal, potato, sunflower, mulberry, grapes, 
Page 5


Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
0 
             
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “ National Mission on 
Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Biotechnology 
 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
Lesson Developer: Dr. Anju Chhibbar, Dr. Vibha Gulyani Checker 
Deshbandhu college, Kirori Mal College 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
Department/College: School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South 
Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
1 
Table of Contents      
? Introduction 
? Biotic stress resistant plants 
? Pest resistant plants 
? Bt toxin 
? Bt cotton 
? Time-line for the development and acceptance of Bt-Cotton in 
India 
? Adverse effects of Bt crops 
? Herbicide Resistant Crops 
? Roundup ready system 
? Advantages of using herbicide tolerant crops 
? Virus resistant plants 
? Resistance against bacterial and fungal pathogens 
? Abiotic stress resistant plants 
? Transgenic crops for quality traits 
? Golden Rice 
? Flavr Savr Tomato 
? Improved Horticultural Varieties 
? Moon dust carnations 
? Drawbacks of Genetically Engineered Crops  
? Summary  
? Exercise/ Practice 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web links 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
2 
Introduction 
Biotechnology employs biological systems to create useful products. It is a welcome technology in 
agriculture as it provides agricultural industry relevant varieties for unique environmental 
conditions. According to Food and agriculture organization (FAO) 2009, world population is 
expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050. To meet the increasing demand of world population, food 
production has to increase by 70%. Agriculture is affected greatly by changes in climatic conditions 
as adverse changes in environment leads to abiotic stress to plants. There is a need for sustainable 
food security, and even to increase nutritional quality of food.  
Genetic modification of plants was initially carried out using traditional methods of plant breeding.  
This was achieved by crossing two different plant varieties to develop a cultivar which possesses 
the desirable characteristics of both parent plants. But the problem in using this method is that 
along with desirable characteristics, many undesirable traits often appear in the progeny. These 
undesirable traits can be removed by time consuming additional breeding experiments. Breeders 
can further select and multiply the progeny with the desired traits.  
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
3 
 
Figure: Generation of new cultivars using conventional breeding vs. transgenic approach. In 
transgenic approach, new genes may be incorporated from related species or unrelated organism. 
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgenesis (cc) 
 
Genetic engineering techniques enhance the capacity to access potentially important genetic 
resources present in other species or even organisms for producing more useful plants possessing 
novel or improved characters. Organisms carrying a fragment of foreign DNA in their genome are 
called genetically modified organisms, GMOs. These genetically modified organisms are also called 
transgenics. The first transgenic plant was developed in tobacco by Fraley et.al. (1983). Now there 
are more than 50 plant species (cotton, tomato, corn, brinjal, potato, sunflower, mulberry, grapes, 
Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture 
 
  Institute of Life Long Learning, University of Delhi 
 
4 
carrot etc.) for which transgenic plants have been made. The transgenic crops covered 170 million 
hectares acreage in 2012.  
Table: Distribution of transgenic crops in five major transgenic crop growing countries in \the 
world in the year 2013. 
Country 
2013– GM 
planted area 
(million 
hectares) 
Biotech crops 
Canada 10.8 Canola, Maize, Soybean, Sugarbeet 
India 11.0 Cotton 
Argentina 24.4 Soybean, Maize, Cotton 
Brazil 40.3 Soybean, Maize, Cotton 
USA 70.1 
Maize, Soybean, Cotton, Canola, Sugarbeet, Alfalfa, Papaya, 
Squash 
Total 175.2 ---- 
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_crops (cc) 
 
Traditional plant breeding is being supported today by genetic engineering programs, especially for 
production of crop plants with resistance against abiotic or biotic stresses or other improvement 
traits. The success of biotechnology relies on the hypothesis that resistance to pest, herbicides, 
diseases and stress can be obtained by inserting genes from foreign sources to cultivated plants. 
Genetic engineering techniques provide useful solutions to problems of agriculture.  
The agricultural crops have following desirable properties for which they can be engineered: 
? Crops with multiple resistant traits against biotic and abiotic stress,  
? Crops which are high yielding and  
? Crops which have improved nutritive qualities. 
This chapter highlights the potential applications of biotechnology in agriculture. Some of the 
important examples are:  
? Bt cotton offers a vastly improved method for delivering Cry-insecticides to target insects, 
compared to traditional Bt sprays. It can be effectively used in insect pest management.