Development and Applications of Transplastomic Plants; A Way Towards Eco-Friendly Agriculture

Abstract

With distribution of genetic materials and advance molecular characteristics, the chloroplast is prokaryotic compartments within the eukaryotic plants that have turned into a crucial source for the genetic engineering and transplastomic plants are becoming more popular means of agricultural development with elevated crop yield. To address global agricultural problems, genetic modification of crop plants is a rapid and promising solution to adapt the environment-friendly and well-controlled farming system. The transplastomic plant with high accumulation of foreign proteins (up to 45–46% TSP) and stable transgene expression with gene containment can be a unique choice for the agricultural innovation of coming centuries. Although the transplastomic plants still facing encumber to ensure the full potential exploitation and expansion as an economical means, the removal of hardness and obstacles of this technology and commercialization can contribute for the sustainable development of future agriculture. In this book chapter, we intend to recapitulate the up to date development and achievement of transplastomic plant including gene transfer procedures in plastid genomes, regulable expression of plastid transgenes, plant trait improvement by foreign gene expression, biopharmaceuticals production, engineering of metabolic pathways in plant, study of transformation mediated RNA editing technologies, bio-safety issues and public concerns on transplastomic plants and overall beneficial aspects. We believe that the utilization of transplastomic plants will ensure an eco-friendly approach in agriculture with minimized hazards and public concerns.