GM Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato Virus Disease is a complex of two different sweet potato viruses. Each of them alone is not considered a severe production constraint. It is only in interaction with one another that it becomes a serious problem. Virus resistant sweet potato was made by introducing into plant cells a gene for the coat protein of one of the viruses. This was done with the aid of a plant microbe that ferried in the gene.

In much the same way vaccines immunize humans against different diseases, modern biotechnology allows scientists to insert small fragments of plant viral DNA into crops. This develops natural protection or immunity against those viruses. If you want to read about how this is done and the different strategies to protect plant crops against viruses, visit http://ag.arizona.edu/~zxiong/plp611/lect22.html.

Related topics:

• Virus resistance
• VR technology
• Issues
• Relevant info
• Prospects
• FAQs

Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report]

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Extensive Study on Bt Cotton - [Click Here]

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SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here]

Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants -  [Click here]

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