Transgenic Crops Research Articles

Empirical analysis on the impact of trust in government, purposes of GM crops, and farmers’ expectations on the delayed commercialization of GM crops in China———Based on Xinjiang and Guangdong survey samples

ABSTRACT GM crops, as a widely researched and applied biotechnology, hold significant strategic and practical implications for promoting the commercialization of GM crops in China, driving agricultural industry upgrading, and fostering economic and social development. However, despite their potential benefits, the commercialization of GM crops in China has been consistently delayed. Therefore, this study aims to explore the trust relationship between the government and the public in the field of genetically modified organisms and the heterogeneous impacts generated at the production and consumption ends. We primarily focus on insect-resistant cotton and genetically modified papaya as representatives and base our research on survey data from Xinjiang and Guangdong. By employing factor analysis and establishing multiple Probit models with government trust, crop purposes, and farmer expectations as independent variables, and the commercialization of GM crops as the dependent variable, we conduct two sets of empirical analyses. The study finds that government trust has a more significant impact on consumer concerns about whether to consume GM products than on producers, who prioritize farmers’ desire for agricultural product profitability. Age and education levels also influence the public’s acceptance of planting GM crops, but the effects are not as significant as the core variables mentioned earlier. Based on this, we conclude that consumers and farmers have different positions and contradictions in the specific scenario of delayed GM commercialization in China. In this context, this paper argues that diversified strategies should be adopted to address the issue of commercialization of GM crops in China.

Genetically modified crops do not present variations in pollen viability and morphology when compared to their conventional counterparts.

Modern agricultural biotechnologies, such as those derived from genetic modification, are solutions that can enable an increase in food production, lead to more efficient use of natural resources, and promote environmental impact reduction. Crops with altered genetic materials have been extensively subjected to safety assessments to fulfill regulatory requirements prior to commercialization. The Brazilian National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) provides provisions for commercial release of transgenic crops in Brazil, including requiring information on pollen dispersion ability as part of environmental risk assessment, which includes pollen viability and morphology studies. Here we present the pollen viability and morphology of non-transgenic conventional materials, single-event genetically modified (GM) products, and stacked GM products from soybean, maize and cotton cultivated in Brazil. Microscopical observation of stained pollen grain was conducted to determine the percentage of pollen viability as well as pollen morphology, which is assessed by measuring pollen grain diameter. The pollen viability and diameter of GM soybean, maize and cotton, evaluated across a number of GM events in each crop, were similar to the conventional non-GM counterparts. Pollen characterization data contributed to the detailed phenotypic description of GM crops, supporting the conclusion that the studied events were not fundamentally different from the conventional control.

Rapid Screening Detection of Genetically Modified Papaya by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-mediated screening detection method for genetically modified (GM) papaya was developed targeting the 35S promoter (P35S) of the cauliflower mosaic virus. LAMP products were detected using a Genie II real-time fluorometer. The limit of detection (LOD) was evaluated and found to be ≤0.05% for papaya seeds. We also designed a primer set for the detection of the papaya endogenous reference sequence, chymopapain, and the species-specificity was confirmed. To improve cost-effectiveness, single-stranded tag hybridization (STH) on a chromatography printed-array strip (C-PAS) system, which is a lateral flow DNA chromatography technology, was applied. LAMP amplification was clearly detected by the system at the LOD level, and a duplex detection of P35S and chymopapain was successfully applied. This simple and quick method for the screening of GM papaya will be useful for the prevention of environmental contamination of unauthorized GM crops.

From Lab to Legislation: Young Scientists Speak Up at Voice of the Future 2023

Before I began my research in genetically modified (GM) crops, I had never really considered the importance of ‘science policy’. I thought of science as this fascinating realm of discovery, where ‘eureka’ moments by scientists created new advances that changed the world instantly. But as I delved deeper into my research, I realized that the situation was far more complicated, and despite the incredible advancements that GM crops could bring, the lack of support from governments could prevent these advances from ever reaching the public.

Refuges of conventional host plants counter dominant resistance of cotton bollworm to transgenic Bt cotton

Transgenic crops have revolutionized insect pest control, but evolution of resistance by pests threatens their continued success. The primary strategy for combating pest resistance to crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) uses refuges of non-Bt host plants to allow survival of susceptible insects. The prevailing paradigm is that refuges delay resistance that is rare and recessively inherited. However, we discovered refuges countered resistance to Bt cotton that was neither rare nor recessive. In a 15-year field study of the cotton bollworm, the frequency of a mutation conferring dominant resistance to Bt cotton surged 100-fold from 2006 to 2016 yet did not rise from 2016 to 2020. Computer simulations indicate the increased refuge percentage from 2016 to 2020 is sufficient to explain the observed halt in the evolution of resistance. The results also demonstrate the efficacy of a Bt crop can be sustained by non-Bt refuges of other crops.

Halostachys caspica pathogenesis-related protein 10 acts as a cytokinin reservoir to regulate plant growth and development.

Pathogenesis-related class 10 (PR-10) proteins play a role in plant growth and development, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we isolated a salt-induced PR-10 gene from the halophyte Halostachys caspica and named it HcPR10. HcPR10 was constitutively expressed during development and HcPR10 localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. HcPR10-mediated phenotypes including bolting, earlier flowering, increased branch number and siliques per plant are highly correlated with increased cytokinin levels in transgenic Arabidopsis. Meanwhile, increased levels of cytokinin in plants is temporally correlated with HcPR10 expression patterns. Although the expression of cytokinin biosynthesis genes validated was not upregulated, cytokinin-related genes including chloroplast-related genes, cytokinin metabolism and cytokinin responses genes and flowering-related genes were significantly upregulated in the transgenic Arabidopsis compared to the wild type by transcriptome deep sequencing. Analysis of the crystal structure of HcPR10 revealed a trans-zeatin riboside (a type of cytokinin) located deep in its cavity, with a conserved conformation and protein-ligand interactions, supporting HcRP10 acts as a cytokinin reservoir. Moreover, HcPR10 in Halostachys caspica predominantly accumulated in vascular tissue, the site of long-distance translocation of plant hormones. Collectively, we draw that HcPR10 as a cytokinin reservoir induces cytokinin-related signal transduction in plants, thereby promoting plant growth and development. These findings could provide intriguing insights into the role of HcPR10 proteins in phytohormone regulation in plants and advance our understanding of cytokinin-mediated plant development and could facilitate the breeding of transgenic crops with earlier mature, higher yielding agronomic traits.

Biochemical and structural characterization of a robust and thermostable ascorbate recycling monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) from stress adapted pearl millet

Ascorbate (AsA) is a crucial antioxidant in plants, and its recycling is necessary for protecting cells from oxidative damage and imparting stress tolerance. The monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) enzyme of the ascorbate-glutathione pathway plays a vital role in recycling AsA from monodehydroascorbate (MDHA) radical. Pennisetum glaucum (Pg), also known as pearl millet, is known to be more tolerant to abiotic stress than other food crops, such as rice. However, the contribution of MDHAR from this sessile plant to its unique stress tolerance mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we isolated a gene encoding the MDHAR enzyme from heat stress-adapted pearl millet and characterized it using enzyme kinetics, thermal stability assays, and crystal structure determination. Our results indicate that PgMDHAR is a more robust enzyme than its rice counterpart (Oryza sativa; Os). We solved the crystal structure of PgMDHAR at 1.8 Å and found that the enzyme has a more compact structure and greater stability than OsMDHAR. Using hybrid quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics calculations, we demonstrate that the structure of PgMDHAR contributes to increased stability towards bound FAD. Overall, the higher structural stability and affinity for NADH demonstrated by PgMDHAR are expected to impart improved stress tolerance. Our findings suggest that transgenic food crops expressing MDHAR from stress-adapted pearl millet may exhibit better tolerance to oxidative stress in the unpredictable climatic conditions prevalent today.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS: HISTORY, METHODS, AND IMPACTS

A desired character’s gene from an intraspecific, interspecific, or other population is introduced into an organism under the guidance of the genetic engineering principle, resulting in genetically modified organisms. This paper deals with the till date achievements of GM crops, major drawbacks, and the points to be considered for further research. GM crops will be the primary choice for feeding the world’s expanding population. The first GM crop was tobacco which was resistant to antibiotics, but tomato flavr savr was commercialized first. The benefits includes increased yield, improved crop nutrition, and resistance to insect pests. Despite these positive qualities, there remains controversy regarding its use. The primary issue with GM crops is gene flow, which may be managed by removing selectable markers after transformation. Notwithstanding these benefits, there remains a global controversy about the usage of Transgenic crops. 45 nations have approved the cultivation. The primary issue with GM crops that might have a direct impact on biodiversity is gene flow.

From Transgenesis to Genome Editing in Crop Improvement: Applications, Marketing, and Legal Issues.

The biotechnological approaches of transgenesis and the more recent eco-friendly new breeding techniques (NBTs), in particular, genome editing, offer useful strategies for genetic improvement of crops, and therefore, recently, they have been receiving increasingly more attention. The number of traits improved through transgenesis and genome editing technologies is growing, ranging from resistance to herbicides and insects to traits capable of coping with human population growth and climate change, such as nutritional quality or resistance to climatic stress and diseases. Research on both technologies has reached an advanced stage of development and, for many biotech crops, phenotypic evaluations in the open field are already underway. In addition, many approvals regarding main crops have been granted. Over time, there has been an increase in the areas cultivated with crops that have been improved through both approaches, but their use in various countries has been limited by legislative restrictions according to the different regulations applied which affect their cultivation, marketing, and use in human and animal nutrition. In the absence of specific legislation, there is an on-going public debate with favorable and unfavorable positions. This review offers an updated and in-depth discussion on these issues.

Detection of Smuggled Genetically Modified Crops and Assessment of its Environmental Impact in the Ethio -Sudan Trans Boundary Area, North West Ethiopia

Background The genetic material of the genetically modified crop has been altered to develop the necessary insect resistance features by introducing genes from the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) bacterium. The objective of this study was to find smuggled GM Bt crops in the Metema farming area and examine its environmental effects. Method An experimental; Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used to collect crop samples in the study area. The CTAB (Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) technique was used to isolate DNA from all transported samples, and the purity was determined using a Nano Drop spectrophotometer. Conventional PCR with particular primers for different Bt gene events was used to detect the presence of genes. Furthermore, utilizing Bt cotton specific primer sets, the prevalence of GM cotton was measured, and amplified fragments were confirmed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Result The PCR results revealed that 15 (33.3 percent) of the samples were Bt cotton smuggled from Sudan. The PCR assay also revealed the presence of GM maize. Moreover, the effects of GM genes on the environment were studied in diseased samples, and no transgenes were found. Furthermore, domestic and indigenous crops were used to determine horizontal gene transfers of GM genes to other crops, and the transgene was not found in any of the samples analyzed. Conclusion: In the current study, 28 (13.4%) of the 209 (100%) total analyzed samples were GM crops which indicated the presence of unauthorized GM seeds in the study area. Environmental impact studies and horizontal gene transfer data similarly revealed that the Bt gene was not transferred to other crops and had no harmful environmental effects. For a better understanding of the Impact of imported unauthorized GM seeds, more additional detection of GM events should be done by expanding the sampling site and sample types.

Monitoring reduced accumulation and risk evaluation of Cry1Ca during food chain transfer from genetic engineered plant to endoparasitoid.

The potential risk of insecticidal proteins produced by genetically engineered (GE) plants to non-target organisms have long been an ecotoxicological concern. Apanteles chilonis, an important endoparasitoid of rice pest Chilo suppressalis, is potentially exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxins through a food chain of transgenic Bt rice - C. suppressalis - A. chilonis, thus, a rigorous risk assessment is urgently needed. Here we combined a tri-trophic bioassay system with high dose exposure approach using C. suppressalis hemolymph as the carrier of insecticidal protein to evaluate the biosafety of Cry1Ca to A. chilonis. Cry1Ca protein could be transmitted and retained along the food chain and remains bioactive in the hemolymph of C. suppressalis during the pre-adult duration of A. chilonis. No significant differences in pre-adult period, male and female longevity, adult fecundity and weight, emergence rate, and sex ratio were observed when A. chilonis parasitized C. suppressalis feeding on cry1Ca rice compared to control treatment. However, the pupal period and weight were significantly prolonged and decreased. When A. chilonis parasitized on C. suppressalis injected with a high dosage of Cry1Ca protein, no adverse effects on the life-history parameters, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GR) of A. chilonis were observed, demonstrating that the host quality mediates adverse effects during the food chain. We confirmed that Cry1Ca posed no ecological risk to the non-target endoparasitoid A. chilonis. This study may serve as an example for future risk assessment of transgenic crops to non-target endoparasitoids. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Do Australians trust scientists? It depends on the ‘science’

AbstractTrust in science and scientists underlies public support for social and environmental issues, from taking action on climate change to preventing the spread of viruses. Nationally representative Australian survey data show that public trust in university research is higher than that conducted in other institutions. As sources of information, public trust in scientists is considered across potentially polarising and relatively uncontroversial fields of science, with trust varying considerably according to the type of science examined. Public trust is highest in vaccine science and weather forecasting, and lowest for GM crop science, while climate science and forest management fall in between. Social and political background variables are important correlates of trust in science. Younger, tertiary educated, politically progressive Australians are most trusting. Greens party identifiers and environmentalists are more likely than other respondents to trust all types of science examined here—including GM crop science—while institutional trust is positively associated with trust in scientists.

Global perspectives on field-evolved resistance to transgenic Bt crops: a special collection.

Crops genetically engineered to produce insect-killing proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have revolutionized management of some major pests, but their efficacy is reduced when pests evolve resistance. Practical resistance, which is field-evolved resistance that reduces the efficacy of Bt crops and has practical implications for pest management, has been reported in 26 cases in seven countries involving 11 pest species. This special collection includes six original papers that present a global perspective on field-evolved resistance to Bt crops. One is a synthetic review providing a comprehensive global summary of the status of the resistance or susceptibility to Bt crops of 24 pest species in 12 countries. Another evaluates the inheritance and fitness costs of resistance of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera to Gpp34/Tpp35Ab (formerly called Cry34/35Ab). Two papers describe and demonstrate advances in techniques for monitoring field-evolved resistance. One uses a modified F2 screen for resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab in Helicoverpa zea in the United States. The other uses genomics to analyze nonrecessive resistance to Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa armigera in China. Two papers provide multi-year monitoring data for resistance to Bt corn in Spain and Canada, respectively. The monitoring data from Spain evaluate responses to Cry1Ab of the corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides and Ostrinia nubilalis, whereas the data from Canada track responses of O. nubilalis to Cry1Ab, Cry1Fa, Cry1A.105, and Cry2Ab. We hope the new methods, results, and conclusions reported here will spur additional research and help to enhance the sustainability of current and future transgenic insecticidal crops.

Gene network modeling and pathway analysis of maize transcriptomes in response to Maize Iranian mosaic virus

Maize Iranian mosaic virus (MIMV, family Rhabdoviridae) is one of the factors limiting cereal production in Iran. In the present study, we sought to find critical genes and key pathways involved in MIMV infection and analyzed gene networks, pathways and promoters using transcriptome data. We determined the hub genes involved in pathways related to the proteasome and ubiquitin. The results showed the important role of the cellular endoplasmic reticulum in MIMV infection. Network cluster analysis confirmed the result of GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The discovered miRNAs belonged to miR166, miR167, miR169, miR395, miR399, miR408 and miR482 families, which are involved in various pathogenicity or resistance processes against MIMV or other viruses. The results of this study provide a list of hub genes, important pathways and new insights for the future development of virus-resistant transgenic crops and clarify the basic mechanism of plant response.

Whole genome sequencing of a novel Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from Assam soil

BackgroundBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive ubiquitous saprophytic bacterium that produces proteins (Crystal protein, Vegetative insecticidal protein, and Secreted insecticidal protein) toxic to insects during its growth cycle. In the present study, the whole genome of a locally isolated B. thuringiensis strain BA04 was sequenced to explore the genetic makeup and to identify the genes responsible to produce insecticidal proteins including the virulence factors. The strain was isolated from the soil sample of the Kaziranga National Park, Assam, North-Eastern part of India (Latitude: 26°34′39.11''N and Longitude: 93°10′16.04''E).ResultsThe whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the BA04 strain revealed that it has a circular genome of size 6,113,005 bp with four numbers of plasmids. A total of 6,111 genes including two novel crystal protein-encoding genes (MH753362.1 and MH753363.1) were identified. The BLASTn analysis of MH753362.1 showed 84% similarities (maximum identity) with Cry1Ia (KJ710646.1) gene, whereas MH753363.1 exhibited 66% identity with Insecticidal Crystal Protein (ICP)-6 gene (KM053257.1). At the protein level, MH753362.1 and MH753363.1 shared 79% identity with Cry1Ia (AIW52613.1) and 40% identity with Insecticidal Crystal Protein (ICP)-6 (AJW76687.1) respectively. Three-dimensional structures of these two novel protein sequences revealed that MH753362.1 have 48% structural similarity with Cry8ea1 protein, whereas MH753363.1 showed only 20% structural similarity with Cry4Aa protein.Apart from these insecticidal genes, the strain was also found to contain virulence and virulence-associated factors including the antibiotic resistance genes and Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) sequences.ConclusionThis is the first report on the whole genome sequence of Bt strain BA04 isolated from Assam, a North-Eastern state of India. The WGS of strain BA04 unveils the presence of two novel types of insecticidal crystal protein-encoding genes which can be used for the development of insect-resistant transgenic crops. Additionally, the strain could be used for the formulations of effective biopesticides. The WGS provides the fastest and cheapest platform for a better understanding of the genetic makeup of a strain and helps to explore the role of virulence genes in pathogenicity against the insect host.

Gut Microbiota Accelerate the Insecticidal Activity of Plastid-Expressed Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb to a Leaf Beetle, Plagiodera versicolora.

Bacillus thuringiensis is widely used as a biopesticide, and its crystal protein expressed in transgenic crops has been successfully used for the management of insect pests. However, whether the midgut microbiota contribute to the Bt insecticidal mechanism remains controversial. We previously demonstrated that transplastomic poplar plants expressing Bt Cry3Bb are highly lethal to willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolora), one of the major pests causing severe damage to Salicaceae plants such as willows and poplars. Here, we demonstrate that feeding poplar leaves expressing Cry3Bb to nonaxenic P. versicolora larvae leads to significantly accelerated mortality, and overgrowth and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, compared with axenic larvae. Corroborating work done with Lepidopteran insects, plastid-expressed Cry3Bb can cause the lysis of the beetle's intestinal cells, lead to the entry of intestinal bacteria into the body cavity, and thus cause the dynamic changes in the flora of the midgut and blood cavity in P. versicolora. Reintroduction of Pseudomonas putida, a gut bacterium of P. versicolora, into axenic P. versicolora larvae further enhances mortality upon feeding on Cry3Bb-expressing poplar. Our results indicate the important contribution of host gut microbiota in promoting the B. thuringiensis crystal protein insecticidal activity and provide new insights into the mechanism of pest control by Bt-transplastomic approaches. IMPORTANCE The contribution of gut microbiota to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb insecticidal activity in a leaf beetle was demonstrated using transplastomic poplar plants, providing a potential new approach to improve the efficiency of plastid transformation technology for pest control by expression of Bt toxins.

EDIBLE VACCINE IS A NATURAL WAY OF VACCINATION: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Many people have high hopes for edible vaccinations because they are inexpensive, easy to administer, safe, convenient to store, practically impossible to mess up, and socially and culturally sustainable even in developing countries. Instead of painful injections, a vaccine that can be eaten is used. Unlike traditional vaccines, edible vaccines are less expensive, require no needles, don't need to be preserved, are non-offensive, may be stored close to where they'll be used, and provide both mucosal and total protection. Edible vaccinations are being produced for a wide range of infectious diseases, including cholera, measles, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and hepatitis B. Autoimmune diseases like type I diabetes are easier to beat with the aid of edible vaccinations. Several diseases in both humans and animals are currently being researched with the goal of creating edible vaccinations. Transgenic crops are gaining popularity in both developed and poor nations. Edible vaccines face an uncertain future in the face of public opposition to transgenic foods. The most significant barriers to a developing vaccination technology have been overcome. There are a number of technical roadblocks, as well as regulatory and non-scientific difficulties, but they all appear to be manageable. In this article, we'll try to discuss where things stand and where they're going with this innovative form of disease prevention. The two main benefits of edible vaccines are generational immunization and the treatment of malnutrition. If the major difficulties can be overcome, it could lead to a windfall of more safe and more effective vaccine. Keywords: Plant Bioreactors; Plant-Based Edible Vaccines; Plant Biotechnology, Comestible vaccine Transgenic Plant; Genetic Engineering,

Possible EU futures for CRISPR-edited plants: Little margin for optimism?

This article addresses the scenarios that may be encountered by the first application for pre-market approval of a CRISPR-edited plant in the EU. Two alternative scenarios are considered in the short and medium term. One of these possible EU futures depends on the final drafting and approval of EU legislation on certain New Genomic Techniques, which was started in 2021 and is due to be quite advanced before the next European Parliament elections in 2024. Since the proposed legislation excludes plants with foreign DNA, two different approval processes for CRISPR-edited plants will coexist if the legislation enters into force: one for plants whose genome has been altered, resulting in mutagenesis, cisgenesis and intragenesis; and the second for plants whose alterations result in transgenesis in general. In the event that this legislative process does not succeed, CRISPR-edited plants in the EU could face a regulatory scenario whose foundations were laid in the 1990s: the regulatory framework that applies to GM crops, food and feed. In this review, an ad hoc analytical framework has been built that considers in depth the two possible futures for CRISPR-edited plants in the EU. This framework emphasises the way in which the European Union and the Member States (MS), with their respective national interests, have historically shaped the regulatory framework for plant breeding in the EU. On the basis of the analyses carried out on the two possible futures for CRISPR-edited plants and of their potential with respect to plant breeding, the main conclusions are the following. Firstly, that the regulatory review that started in 2021 is not in itself "good enough" for plant breeding and CRISPR-edited plants. Secondly, that compared to its alternative, the regulatory review currently underway contains at least some promising improvements in the short term. Hence, thirdly, in addition to adopting the current regulation, the MS need to continue to work towards a substantial improvement in the legal status of plant breeding in the EU in the medium term.

Genes and genetic mechanisms contributing to fall armyworm resistance in maize.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a crop of major economic and food security importance globally. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, can devastate entire maize crops, especially in countries or markets that do not allow the use of transgenic crops. Host-plant insect resistance is an economical and environmentally benign way to control FAW, and this study sought to identify maize lines, genes, and pathways that contribute to resistance to FAW. Of the 289 maize lines phenotyped for FAW damage in artificially infested, replicated field trials over 3 years, 31 were identified with good levels of resistance that could donate FAW resistance into elite but susceptible hybrid parents. The 289 lines were genotyped by sequencing to provide singlenucleotidepolymorphism(SNP) markers for a genome-wide association study (GWAS), followed by a metabolic pathway analysis using the Pathway Association Study Tool (PAST). GWAS identified 15 SNPs linked to 7 genes, and PAST identified multiple pathways, associated with FAW damage. Top pathways, and thus useful resistance mechanisms for further study, include hormone signaling pathways and the biosynthesis of carotenoids (particularly zeaxanthin), chlorophyll compounds, cuticular wax, known antibiosis agents, and 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate. Targeted metabolite analysis confirmed that maize genotypes with lower levels of FAW damage tend to have higher levels of chlorophyll a than genotypes with high FAW damage, which tend to have lower levels of pheophytin, lutein, chlorophyll b and β-carotene. The list of resistant genotypes, and the results from the genetic, pathway, and metabolic study, can all contribute to efficient creation of FAW resistant cultivars.

Customizing ethical tools for Malaysian farmers: a case for GM crops technology

The socio-economic and cultural factors are rarely at the centre stage in the discourse on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) compared to the scientific and technological aspects. This study described the indicators for the ethical principles of genetically modified (GM) crops that can protect the rights of Malaysian farmers. Respect for life and the need to balance the benefits and harms are the indicators of general principles of ethics. It is vital for a decision to comprise of both scientific evidence and ethical consideration. Ethics focuses on what we should or should not do and locality-based. Therefore, ethical principles must be part of the evaluation criteria of policy practices. They must also be custom-made to suit Malaysian farmers. Ethical decision-making regarding genetic modification is complicated since it encompasses many ethical aspects of our lives. This paper aims to analyze and customize the indicators of ethical principles and guidelines on using GM crops in Malaysia to protect Malaysian farmers. A meta-analysis exploration comprised of system-matic review of established research within GM crops’ agronomic, socio-economic, cultural, and environmental effects is employed to consolidate the evidence. The outcome is the formation of an ethical tool comprised of nine indicators that suits farmers in Malaysia.