Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 2011, 53 (7): 510–511

Editorial

Transgenic Crops: An Option for Future Agriculture

The world population is projected to reach seven billion atthe end of year 2011, with an increase of 1 billion from year2000 to 2011. Currently, Asia alone accounts for about 60%of the world population. China and India together account forover 36%. It will be, undoubtedly, quite challenging to feedthe increasing population of the world. On the other hand,the world’s arable land will not increase and most likely itwill reduce due to industrial development and urbanization indeveloping countries. On the other hand, global warming andclimate changes, as witnessed in the year 2011 worldwide, puttremendous pressure on agriculture to sustain productivity. Itwas estimated that a 70-percent increase in food demand aloneis required by 2050 (The FAO 2006 Interim Report). In the past,agricultural productivity had increased significantly thanks tothe improved farming management, greater use of fertilizersand pesticides, the “Green Revolution” and hybrid technology.What can we expect in the future? From a biologist’s point ofview, innovative technology, such as transgenic technology, tobreed crop varieties that contain elite traits including stress-resistance, high nutritional and water use efficiency, and highyield, needs to be developed. In this context, this special issueon transgenic crops reviews current progress in gene stackingtechnology, efforts to improve transformation technology and itsapplication, risk assessment and the monitoring of geneticallymodified organisms (GMOs).

The key of transgenic technology is to combine elite traitgenes and transfer them into target crops. The first generationof GMOs only contained either herbicide- or insect-resistanttrait gene, which was combined together in the second gen-eration GMOs. It is obvious that multiple trait genes will becombined together in the third generation GMOs to furtherenhance crop productivity. Ow (2011) reviewed current techno-logical development for integration of multiple genes of interestinto the target genome. Gene stacking technology allows theintegration of multiple trait genes into a single locus in thecrop genome; this would avoid the segregation of multiple loci,and therefore significantly facilitates the breeding process andreduces the cost. The pros and cons of in planta gene stackingtechnology using both recombinase-mediated and homologousrecombination-dependent gene targeting technology, such as

doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2011.01064.x

Zinc-finger nucleases, mega-nucleases, and TAL effector nu-cleases, are discussed in detail. These emerging technologiesallow site-specific gene targeting of the target genome, andtheir application will foster the development of new generationsof transgenic crops with desirable traits.

Since the introduction of the first transgenic tomato (theFlavrSavr tomato) in 1994, GMOs have been grown in 29countries covering 148 million hectares worldwide in 2010,with a 10% increase over 2009 (James 2011). What arethe social and ecological benefits and risks of GMOs? Yuet al. (2011) addresses these issues by reviewing Bacillusthruingiensis CRY (Bt) transgenic crops in China and the world.It is clear from their analysis that Bt crops have no directdetrimental effects on non-target organisms due to their narrowspectrum of activity. Interestingly, Bt crops also increases theabundance of beneficial insects. Together with the reduction ofpesticide application and cost reduction, Bt crops have broughttremendous benefit to both the environment and farmers whogrow GMOs. In addition, procedures and methods of monitoringBt crops are also reviewed.

Labeling of GMO products are mandatory in many countries,standardized and rapid detection procedures are needed tomonitor GMO products as more countries produce GMOs.Zhang and Guo (2011) review the current status of standard-ization of testing methods for GMOs and their derived productsworldwide. Both protein-based and DNA-based methods andtheir standardization are discussed in detail, which serves as agood reference for testing GMOs worldwide.

Starch is not only important for food, but also for industryand bioengergy. Cassava, for example, is a major food cropin Africa and Latin America, and also serves as sources ofstarch and bioethanol. Liu and colleagues (2011) reviewed thecurrent status of cassava transformation technology and itsapplication in breeding. Sun et al. (2011) reported on the effortto increase starch production by modulating sugar transporta-tion in potato. Their results showed that potato transformedwith rice sugar transporter OsSUT5Z gene showed a 1.9-foldincrease in average tuber yield per plant compared to non-transgenic control plants, a significant yield improvement. Alsoin this issue, Xu et al. (2011) discussed the functions and

C© 2011 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

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potential use of AP2/ERF family transcription regulators in cropimprovement.

Since its introduction in early 1990s, GMOs have been grownin many more countries as witnessed by the steady increaseof GMO acreage worldwide. This trend will continue althoughconcerns about GMO (rice) safety have been a hot topic ofdiscussion in China and other countries. Undoubtedly, with thedevelopment of better technology, GMOs will play an importantrole in increasing agricultural productivity.

References

James C (2011) Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops:

2010. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech

Applications Brief No. 42. ISAAA: Ithaca, NY.

Liu J, Zheng Q, Ma Q, Gadidasu KK, Zhang P (2011) Cassava

genetics transformation and its application in breeding. J. Integr.

Plant Biol. 53, 552–569.

Ow DW (2011) Recombinase-mediated gene stacking as a transforma-

tion operating system. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 53, 512–519.

Sun A, Dai Y, Zhang X, Li C, Meng K, Xu H, Wei X, Xiao G,

Ouwerkerk PBF, Wang M, Zhu Z (2011) A transgenic study on af-

fecting potato tuber yield by expressing the rice sucrose transporter

genes OsSUT5Z and OsSUT2M. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 53, 586–

595.

Xu ZS, Chen M, Li LC, Ma YZ (2011) Functions and application of the

AP2/ERF transcription factor family in crop improvement. J. Integr.

Plant Biol. 53, 570–585.

Yu HL, Li YH, Wu KM (2011) Risk assessment and ecological effects

of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis crops on non-target organisms.

J. Integr. Plant Biol. 53, 520–538.

Zhang D, Guo J (2011) The development and standardization of

testing methods for genetically modified organisms and their derived

products. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 53, 539–551.

Wei-Cai YangIssue EditorInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChina

Jianmin WanIssue EditorInstitute of Crop ScienceChinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesChina