The current practices of agriculture hence need to be modified to meet the demands of the human population through eco-friendly and ethical means using technology. The rise of GM crops in the past century has been such an initiative by the scientific community.

GM RICE

Rice has been the most widely cultivated food grain and the major source of carbohydrates in diet of many developing and underdeveloped countries around the world. However, with rice being the main ingredient in diet, malnutrition is a serious problem affecting these countries. The traditional methods of crop modification including hybridization do not work since all species of oryza lacks genome to produce Betacarotene in endosperm. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious concern in the low income countries with a high prevalence of 1.5 per 1000 children. In simple terms, approximately 75 % of the total blind children around the world live in the low economic regions of Asia and Africa.

GM rice was the first initiative to address this concern to alleviate the effects of malnutrition in the low income countries. A strain of the oryza with high Betacarotene was developed by the scientists at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology for Plant Sciences called as „Golden Rice”. Gene for phytoene synthase (psy) was isolated from the wild daffodils ((Narcissus pseudonarcissus) along with phytoene desaturase (ctrI) gene from a bacteria Erwinia uredovorainto and inserted into the Oryza sps Genome enabling the production of Betacarotene. The fortified kernel is golden yellow in colour.

GM POTATO

The Genetically modified potato known as New Leaf potato was developed by using the genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to provide resistance from the potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) infection. Monsanto and co took up the marketing of the potato variety in 1990s, but was soon withdrawn in 2001 after widespread protests against GM crops.

Another variety Fortuna Potato developed by BASF Corporation by inserting two genes from wild potato strain Solanum bulbocastanum resistant to late blight infection. Late blight infection is caused by Phytophthora infestans, affecting over 20 % of the annual yield of potato. Remember the Irish potato famine of 1840s! Phytophthora infection was the primary cause for the famine. After much legal hassles, Fortuna failed to obtain approval for field cultivation in Europe which forced BASF to abandon its efforts. A second variety resistant to late blight infection was developed by British researchers known as “Desiree Potatoes”. The field trials have shown promising result of increasing the yield to almost 100%. The Desiree potato hopes to find a market in U.S and is associated with Simplot for further research on improving its immunity.

GM TOMATO

The GM tomatoes were found to have higher concentration of pectin molecules which accounted for higher serum viscosity. But they were in no way inferior to normal tomatoes in terms of pH, acidity, color and sugar concentration. The only notable difference was the lack of polygalacturonase activity which was responsible for hydrolysis of pectin molecules. This difference contributes to the notable changes in quality of fruit such as enhanced shelf life, firmer fruits even after ripening, and improved resistance to fungal pathogens in Flavr Savr. But the public opposition was strong and hence the Flavr savr‟ soon found its place off the shelves. Transgenic tomatoes have since then developed with therapeutic effects.

GM PAPAYA

The 1990s witnessed a major disaster which affected the Hawaiian Papaya sales due to the deadly ring spot virus. Rainbow Papaya developed in the 1998 proved to be resistant to the virus and since then almost 80% of the Hawaiian Papayas under cultivation are genetically engineered. The ring spot virus would have otherwise wiped out the crop itself since no known natural or organic farming methods could prevent the infection.

GM STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries generally are rich in vitamin C content. Researchers have successfully transferred the Agene (GalUR) which converts the plant protein to vitamin C from cress Arabidopsis thaliana to Strawberry to enrich the vitamin content to almost 3 times. Agrobacterium mediated transfer of the gene to the plant resulted in over expression of the gene resulting in higher vitamin C content.

GM CORN

Genetic modification in Corn has been mainly to induce herbicide and pesticide tolerance and as a protective measure against disease causing insects. Bt Corn is one such example which is intended to control the population of lepidoptera larvae which causes corn borer infection. However, more than the inserted Bt gene, the promoter and identifier sequences of genetic material which are added for selection of transgenic plants have proven to give rise to more harms often unexpected. How these promoter sequences code for in a new genome is not well understood and now the primary contention of those who oppose GMO foods.

GM CANOLA

Major portion of the Canola oil produced in U.S is now from genetically modified canola plants whose gene structure has been altered by using transgenic technology to induce herbicide resistance or pest resistance. Genetic modification of canola has also been carried out to improve the oil composition so as to improve the non- triglyceride portions which are usually removed from the oil during refining process. These remains are used to produce animal feed.

GM Zucchini, GM Sugar Beet etc.

Virus resistant GM Zucchini constitute approximately 13 % of the total zucchini produced in U.S. Herbicide tolerant species of sugar beet is approved and is cultivated in many countries including U.S, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, EU, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Singapore and Russia.

GM Bt COTTON

By 2014, India has emerged as the single largest producer of GM Bt Cotton and over 95 % of the total cotton cultivated in India is genetically modified. The Bt cotton with the introduction of Cry gene is able to prevent infestation by three types of bollworms. The growth of Bt cotton has also significantly reduced the use of insecticides. Integrated methods of pest management could also be effectively implemented due to the lowered use of pesticides and insecticides. However, Bt cotton has had its share of limitations including the high cost of seeds, the short duration of its efficiency to produce the Bt endotoxin (up to 120 days), and the ineffectiveness against pests other than the bollworms

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