Biotech Updates

Scientists Developing Insect Resistant Biotech Soybean in Indonesia

May 29, 2009

Scientists at the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development, Bogor, Indonesia have successfully introduced the proteinase inhibitor II (pin II) gene to a soybean variety through the particle bombardment technique. Pin II gene is implicated in the defense mechanisms of many crop species. Two plants of soybean variety Wilis (WP1, WP2) and three plants of the Tidar variety (TP1, TP2, TP3) produced transgenic plants. However, molecular analysis of these regenerated plants using the polymerase chain reaction technique showed that only WP2 contained the pinll gene. Further evaluation of this positively transformed plant will be conducted and more transgenic plants will be generated in the future.

More information on this research can be obtained from http://digilib.biologi.lipi.go.id/view.html?idm=30140. For information on biotechnology in Indonesia, contact Dewi Suryani of the IndoBIC at dewisuryani@biotrop.org.