Manipulation of Natural Product Accumulation in Plants Through Genetic Engineering

Abstract

SUMMARY The efficient strategies now available through which the stable incorporation of artificial (chimeric) genes into a plant genome may be brought about provides the possibility of manipulating bio-synthetic pathways in commercially important plants. This technology can provide the plant breeder with a much wider range of traits for use in a classical breeding programme than is normally available within natural biodiversity. Whilst the main focus of this form of plant biotechnology has been centred on the genetic modification of crop plants, many opportunities exist for the improvement of medicinal and ornamental plants. Using genetic modification it has been shown to be possible to alter, amongst other attributes, flower colour, lignin levels, and the accumulation of biologically active principles. Examples of such studies are the accumulation of alizarin, shikonin, solasodine, artemisinin, scopol-amine which are examined in this paper, along with a consideration of some of the possible future developments in this type of technology.