&CHAPTER 8

Genes and Traits of Interest for

Transgenic Plants

KENNETH L. KORTH

Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

8.0. CHAPTER SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES

8.0.1 Summary

The whole purpose of biotechnology is to manipulate the genome of important plants,

typically by adding a few genes at a time. Traits can be manipulated by inserting DNA orig-

inating from any organism with that trait of interest into the target plant. Thus far in crop

biotechnology, much work has been accomplished in conferring traits to plants such as

the ability to survive herbicide treatment, insect resistance, disease resistance, and stress

tolerance. However, there is growing interest in producing drugs and industrial proteins

in plants as well as enhancing the nutrition of plant products.

8.0.2 Discussion Questions

1. What are the differences between “input” and “output” traits? Considering the
   environmental and biological factors that limit production in a farmer’s field, what
   are some new input traits that might be good candidates for improvement using
   biotechnology?


2. Consider the possibility that you are employed by an agricultural biotechnology
   company, and they ask you to find a bacterial gene for resistance to a specific
   herbicide. The herbicide has been manufactured by the company for many years.
   Using a strategy similar to that used to find glyphosate resistance, where might
   you start to look for a bacterium resistant to that herbicide?


3. Other than the products discussed in this chapter, what other sorts of genes or
   strategies might be useful in engineering transgenic plants resistant to insects or
   pathogens?


4. Golden Rice producing provitamin A has the potential to help many impoverished
   people who might benefit from eating it. Although application of this technology

Plant Biotechnology and Genetics: Principles, Techniques, and Applications, Edited by C. Neal Stewart, Jr.

Copyright#2008 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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