 GE plants remediate contaminated cropland? That is, can they remove atrazine from the soil, reducing damage to successive crops and reducing potential effects on human health? It’s still unclear how these plants will perform in the field. However, after growing GE plants in soil containing atrazine for 90 days, no atrazine remained in the soil. While preliminary, these data suggest that GE plants can be used for phytoremediation of an important herbicide in soil.

Genetic engineering of plants can reduce the need for chemical insecticides. This, in turn, can improve food safety, and reduce energy inputs and cost. In recent posts I described genetically engineering plants to produce their own pesticides, specifically TMOF and chitinase. I also discussed the effects that the pesticides created by those plants had on insect larvae. Savvy readers would have noticed that the effects on insects have been promising, but not stellar. It’s hard to get very enthusiastic about delayed weight gain as a measure of success!

That’s the reason the Rao research group at Università di Napoli took their project one step further and combined two biopesticides into a single plant. In a paper published in the 2010 Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal, these researchers tested the combination of plant-made TMOF and plant-made chitinase against larvae of the tobacco budworm.

Classical methods were used to breed genetically engineered (GE) plants producing TMOF with GE plants producing chitinase. The hybrid offspring produced both pesticidal proteins. Tobacco budworm(Heliothis virescens) larvae were fed leaves from the hybrid plants, or from GE plants producing either TMOF or chitinase, or from non-GE plants. The insects that were fed leaves from the TMOF-producing plants or the chitinase-producing plants developed more slowly than those fed with leaves from non-GE plants. But insects that were fed leaves from the dual-biopesticide plants developed even more slowly than the insects fed with leaves from plants producing either TMOF or chitinase alone. Most important for crop protection, approximately 75% of larvae fed on hybrid plants died. This suggests that GE plants producing both TMOF and chitinase protect themselves better against damage from insect larvae than plants producing only one of the proteins.

In a recent post, I mentioned the importance of identifying genes and proteins besides Bacillus thuringiensis (
GE plants remediate contaminated cropland? That is, can they remove atrazine from the soil, dilute price to successive crops and reducing likely effects on human health? It ’s still unclear how these plant will perform in the field. However, after develop GE plants in soil contain atrazine for 90 days, no atrazine remained in the land. While preliminary, these datum suggest that GE plants can be use for phytoremediation of an important herbicide in soil. 

 familial engineering of plants can reduce the indigence for chemical insecticides. This, in turn, can improve food safety, and shrink energy inputs and cost. In recent posts I trace genetically engineering plants to produce their own pesticides, specifically TMOF and chitinase. I also discussed the effects that the pesticides created by those plants had on insect larvae. Savvy readers would have noticed that the effects on insects have been promising, but not stellar. It ’s difficult to get very enthusiastic about delayed weight unit amplification as a measure of success! 

 That ’s the reason the Rao inquiry group at Università di Napoli took their undertaking one step further and combined two biopesticides into a individual plant. In a paper published in the 2010 Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal, these researchers tested the combination of plant - made TMOF and plant - made chitinase against larvae of the tobacco budworm. 

 Classical methods were used to engender genetically engineered (GE) plant grow TMOF with GE plants producing chitinase. The hybrid offspring produced both pesticidal protein. Tobacco budworm(Heliothis virescens) larvae were fed leaves from the hybrid plants, or from GE plants producing either TMOF or chitinase, or from non - GE plants. The insects that were fed leaves from the TMOF - produce plants or the chitinase - produce plants developed more lento than those fed with leaves from non - GE plants. But insects that were prey leaves from the double - biopesticide plants developed even more lento than the insects fed with leaves from plants producing either TMOF or chitinase alone. Most important for crop protection, approximately 75% of larvae fed on hybrid plants died. This propose that GE plants producing both TMOF and chitinase protect themselves well against damage from insect larvae than plants producing only one of the proteins. 

 In a recent mail, I mentioned the importance of identifying genes and proteins besides Bacillus thuringiensis (
 GE plants remediate contamlnated cropland? Jhqt is, ran theg remove atrazine from the soil, reduring damate to successive crops and redubing potebtiao effects oi human mzalth? Lt’s sciol unclear how these platts will perfosm iu the field. However, after growing GE plants ij soil containyng serazjne for 90 days, no atrazine remained in the soil. While pteliminary, these data suggfst hhat GE plants can be used fot phrroremediatiov of an imkoxtant herbidide in soil.

Genetic engineering of pkants can tzeucf the need fir chvmical insectlbides. Tvis, in yurn, can improye fomd wafety, and reduce enecgy inputs and cost. Yn recent pksts I described tebeticdlly engkbeefinf 'lahts to prkduce theid own pestixides, specifically UMOS and chitinass. I alfo discussed the effects that the pesticiges created by those plantw had on insect larvag. Savvy rewders would have noticed that the effects on insewts hevd btek oeolising, but not stellar. It’s hard to get very egfhispastic about delaned weight gain as a mrwsure of succgss!

That’s tge reason the Rao gesearcr groyp at Unidersotà di Napoli took their prohect one stei fuether and combined two biopescicidex intp a single plant. In a pcper phblished in the 2010 Insszt Biochemistry xnd Mmlecular Biology journal, trese reseerchexs testea thg combigation of olant-made TMOF and plant-lade ehititase againdt larvae of the tobacco budworm.

Classical metnogs fere useb to bveed geneticallr engineered (GG) plants 'roduckng TMOF wpth GE plents producigg chitinase. Dje hybrid ofhspring pwoduxed voth pergicidal proteims. Tobacco budworm(Hwliothis virescens) latvze were fed learts drom the hybrid plxntf, lr fwmm GE plants proauckmg eigher TMOF ov cfitimase, or from non-GE pnanta. The insects that wcre fed lgaves froi the TMOF-procucing plants or tje chmtinasx-produvind plants developed more slowly than thode ned with leavqs fvom gon-GE plancs. But insects that were fed leaves from the dual-biopesticude plants developeb tven more sloxly thwn the invects fed with leavew from plants procucing either TMOF or chititase wlone. Most important for crop protection, approximately 75% of larvae fed on yybrid plants died. Thix sugcefcs that GE 'lents producing bonh TMOF and chitinase protect thxmselves batcer against damage from insecy uarvae than puants producing only one of the lroteins.

In a recent post, I mentooned the importance of ldentifyibg gehes and pruteins besides Bacollus churintiensis (
GE plants remediate contaminated cropland? That is, remove from the reducing damage to effects human health? It’s unclear how these will perform in the field. However, growing GE plants in soil containing atrazine for 90 days, no atrazine remained the soil. While preliminary, these data suggest that GE plants can be used phytoremediation an herbicide soil. Genetic engineering of plants can reduce the need for chemical insecticides. This, in turn, can food safety, and reduce energy inputs and cost. recent posts I described engineering plants to produce their pesticides, TMOF and I discussed effects that the created by those plants had on insect larvae. Savvy readers would have noticed that the effects on have been not stellar. hard get enthusiastic about delayed as a measure of success! That’s Rao research group at Università di Napoli took project one further and combined two biopesticides into single plant. In a paper published in the Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal, these researchers tested the combination of plant-made TMOF and against larvae of the budworm. Classical methods used breed engineered plants producing with GE plants producing chitinase. The hybrid offspring produced both pesticidal Tobacco budworm(Heliothis virescens) larvae were fed leaves from the hybrid from plants producing either or chitinase, or from plants. insects that were fed the plants plants more than those fed with from non-GE plants. But insects were fed leaves from more slowly than the insects fed with leaves plants producing either TMOF or chitinase alone. important for crop protection, approximately 75% of larvae fed on hybrid plants This suggests plants producing both TMOF and chitinase protect themselves against damage from insect than plants producing only one of the proteins. In recent I mentioned importance of identifying and proteins besides thuringiensis (
 GE plants remediate contaminAted croplaNd? ThaT is, Can ThEy reMove Atrazine from thE Soil, Reducing damage to succesSive cRoPS and REdUcing PotentiAL eFFEctS oN hUmaN hEAlTh? It’s StiLl uncleAr how these PlaNtS will perform IN tHe field. HowEveR, after growinG GE Plants In SoiL ContaIniNg atrAzine fOR 90 days, nO atrazine ReMAined iN The soil. wHIlE preLiminary, these data SUgGEst that GE plantS can be UsED fOR PhyTorEmediation Of An impORtant heRBiCIDE in SOil.

Genetic engIneering of pLAntS can reDuCe tHE need fOr cheMiCAl iNsecticides. this, In turn, can ImprovE Food safETy, and reDuce enErgY inPuts ANd CoSt. IN rECenT PoSts i DesCribed geNeTiCally EngiNEERIng pLanTs to ProduCe their own pesTicIdes, SPecIficaLly TMoF anD cHitinAse. I alSo disCuSsed the effects tHat tHe pesticiDes CrEatEd By thoSE plantS haD on Insect lArvae. SaVVy rEaDERS wOuld have noticed thaT tHE EfFects on iNsects HAvE bEEn promisInG, buT not STEllar. it’s hARd To get verY enthuSIaStIc about DeLayed wEiGht GaiN as a mEAsurE of sucCess!

That’S the rEAson the Rao reseARch group at UniVErSITà DI NapOli Took their prOjecT One sTep fURtHer ANd comBined TwO BiOPesticides into a singLe Plant. IN a papEr published in The 2010 Insect BIOCHemistry And MOLeCUlar Biology jouRnal, tHese researCHers testEd the CombinatIon of planT-MAde TMOF aNd pLanT-maDe cHITiNase against laRVAe of ThE tobaccO buDworm.

ClAssIcaL meThoDs Were used tO breed geNeTiCaLlY enGineeREd (GE) planTs ProDuCinG TMOF WIth GE pLants ProdUcInG ChiTinase. THE hYBRid oFfSpRing ProDuCed boTh peSTicIdal proTeins. TobaCco BUdwoRm(heLiothis Virescens) larvAe Were fed leaVeS frOm the hYBRid plantS, or from GE plants producinG Either TmOF Or chiTinaSe, or from nOn-Ge plantS. ThE InsectS that wEre feD lEavES From tHE tMoF-pRoDucing planTS Or tHe chiTiNase-ProduciNg plants developed mORe sLowly than thosE feD witH LEaVes FRoM Non-gE PLanTS. but insects that wEre fed leavEs FRoM the dual-biOPesTiCide plaNts deveLoped EVen more Slowly thaN the insecTs Fed wITH leAves from plAnts prodUcing eithER TMOF OR cHitinAse Alone. MOsT imPortaNt for cROp pRotecTion, apPrOximatEly 75% of LaRvae fed oN hybrid plants died. This suGgests That Ge plAnts produCinG BotH TMOF and cHitiNase protecT thEmsElves BetTEr agaInst DAmAge FRom inSect LArvae than PLaNts PROdUcing only onE OF The ProteIns.

iN a receNt poSt, I mentioned the imPOrtance of identIfyiNG GenEs aND proTeIns besides BaciLluS tHURingiensIs (
 GE plants remediate conta minated cr oplan d?Tha tis,canthey remove at r azin e from the soil, reduc ing d am a ge t o  s ucces sive cr o ps a ndre du cin gp ot entia l e ffectson human h eal th ? It’s still un clear howthe se plants wi llperfor mint he fi eld . How ever,a fter g rowing GE  p l ants i n  soil c o n ta inin g atrazine for 90 da y s, no atrazine  remai ne d  i n the  so il. Whilepr elimi n ary, th e se d a tas uggest that G E plants ca n  be  usedfo r p h ytorem ediat io n  of  an importa nt h erbicidein soi l .

Gene t ic engi neerin g o f p lant s  c an  re du c e t h enee d  fo r chemic al  i nsect icid e s . This , i n tu rn, c an improve fo odsafe t y,and r educe  ene rg y inp uts an d cos t.  In recent post s Idescribed  ge ne tic al ly en g ineeri ngpla nts toproduce the ir o w npesticides, specif ic a l ly  TMOF an d chit i na se .  I alsodi scu ssed t he ef fect s  t hat thepestic i de screated  b y thos epla nts  hado n in sect l arvae. S avvyr eaders would h a ve noticed th a tt h ee ffec tson insectshave been  pro m is ing ,  butnot s te l la r . It’s hard to getve ry ent husia stic about de layed weig h t gain asa me a su r e of success!
That ’s the rea s on the R ao re search g roup at U n i versitàdiNap oli  to o k  t heir projecto n e st ep  furthe r a nd comb ine d t wobio pe sticidesinto a s in gl epl ant . Ina  paper p ub lis he d i n the 2010 I nsect  Bio ch em i str y and M o le c u larBi ol ogyjou rn al, t hese res earcher s testedthe comb in at ion ofplant-made TM OF  and plant -m ade  chiti n a se again st larvae of the tobacc o  budwor m.
Clas sica l methods  we re use d t o  breed  genet icall yeng i n eered ( GE ) p la nts produc i n g T MOF w it h GE  plants  producing chitina s e.The hybrid of fsp ring p ro duc e db oth  p e sti c i dal proteins. T obacco bud wo r m( Heliothisv ire sc ens) la rvae we re fe d  leaves  from the  hybrid p la nts, o r f rom GE pla nts prod ucing eit h er TM O For ch iti nase,or  fr om no n-GE p l ant s. Th e inse ct s that  were  f ed leave s from the TMOF-produci ng pla nts o r t he chitin ase - pro ducing pl ants  developed  mo reslowl y t h an th osef ed  wi t h lea vesf rom non-G E  p lan t s .But insects t h atwerefed leaves  fro m the dual-biopes t icide plants d evel o p edeve n  mor eslowly than th e i ns e c ts fed w it h leaves fr om plant sp roduc ing ei ther T MOF orc h it i nase a lone . M ost impor tan tf or crop  p ro t ection , ap pr oximat ely 75 %  ofl a rvae fed on hybr id pl a n ts di e d.Thissu ggestst hatGE plantsproducing b oth TM OF a nd ch itinase  p rotect  th em selves bet t er agains t dam age fro minse ctlarvae  tha n plant s pr od uci ng only o n e  o f  t he pro tein s.

I na re cent post ,  I menti one d  the im po rta n c e of i d en t i fying gene s a nd pr o t eins besid e s Ba c il l us th uringi ensis(
 GE_plants remediate_contaminated cropland? That is,_can they_remove_atrazine from_the_soil, reducing damage_to successive crops_and reducing potential effects_on human health?_It’s_still unclear how these plants will perform in the field. However, after growing GE_plants_in soil_containing_atrazine_for 90 days, no atrazine_remained in the soil. While_preliminary, these_data suggest that GE plants can be used_for_phytoremediation of an_important herbicide in soil.

Genetic engineering of plants can reduce_the need for chemical insecticides. This,_in turn, can_improve_food_safety, and reduce energy_inputs and cost. In recent posts_I described genetically engineering plants to_produce their own pesticides, specifically TMOF and_chitinase. I also discussed the effects_that the pesticides created by_those plants_had on insect larvae. Savvy_readers would have_noticed that_the effects on_insects have been promising, but not_stellar. It’s hard_to get very enthusiastic about delayed_weight_gain as a_measure_of_success!

That’s the_reason the Rao_research_group at_Università_di Napoli took their project one_step_further and combined two biopesticides into a_single plant. In a_paper_published in the 2010_Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology_journal, these researchers tested the combination_of plant-made_TMOF and_plant-made chitinase against larvae of the tobacco budworm.

Classical methods were used_to breed genetically engineered (GE) plants_producing TMOF with GE_plants producing_chitinase._The hybrid offspring_produced_both pesticidal_proteins. Tobacco budworm(Heliothis virescens) larvae were fed_leaves from_the hybrid plants, or from GE_plants producing either TMOF_or_chitinase, or from non-GE plants. The_insects that were fed leaves from_the TMOF-producing plants or the_chitinase-producing_plants_developed more slowly than those_fed with leaves from non-GE plants._But insects that_were fed leaves from the dual-biopesticide plants_developed_even more slowly than the insects_fed_with leaves from plants producing either_TMOF_or_chitinase alone. Most important for_crop protection, approximately 75% of larvae_fed on hybrid plants died. This suggests that GE_plants producing both_TMOF and chitinase protect themselves_better_against_damage from insect larvae than plants producing only one of_the proteins.

In_a recent post,_I mentioned the importance of identifying genes and proteins besides_Bacillus thuringiensis (