Scientists Report Accumulation of Selenium in Colorado Potato Beetle-resistant Potatoes
October 29, 2010| |
One of the major pests of potatoes in many areas including Russia is the Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) which is resistant to most classes of chemical pesticides. Through genetic engineering of Bt protein Cry3A, scientists were able to produce three potato varieties with resistance to CPB. Most Bt plants have increased level of lignin, starch, carbon and nitrogen except for the CPB varieties. However, information about the levels of Selenium (Se), an element which provide protection mechanism in plants against insect attact, is still lacking. Thus, Russian scientists Nadezhda Golubkina and Konstantin Skriabin studied the accumulation of Se in GM potato at the Russian Bioengineering Center, Moscow.
Se levels of three varieties of CBP-resistant potatoes were identified using fluorimetric method of analysis and it was found out that the GM potatoes have elevated Se levels (9.5 times more) compared with the control. This may suggest that plants absorb high concentrations of metals from the substrate as a self-defense mechanism against infection and herbivores. The metal ion may destroy or impede the growth and development of the plant pests.
The Se accumulation observed could possibly imply the metal's contribution in plant defense and the researchers suggest for a more detailed investigation on the biological effects of Se on CPB-resistant potatoes.
Read the abstract of this study at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2009.08.011.
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