Biotech Updates

Transgenic Research for Insect Resistance in Sugarcane

April 20, 2011

Tropical Plant Biology journal released a special edition titled "Sugarcane" with an article about the advances in transgenic research for insect resistance in sugarcane. According to the review, sugarcane production losses due to pests reach 10% and thus the need for transformed resistance to biotic stresses. Conventional breeding for such trait is difficult due to the genetic complexity of the plant. The authors recommend field-level strategies based on the success of other GM crops, along with the search for new potent replacement molecules for transformation.

The review is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/c1416tw3k9443513/