Potato with enhanced protein levels and more essential amino acids developed in India

7 December 2010

In Bionieuws of October 2nd 2010 Indian research by Subhra Chakraborty and others is mentioned. Researchers of the National Institute of Plant Genome Research and 2 stations of the Central Potato Research Institute have transferred genetic material from amaranth to potato. Amaranth is an ancient grain crop, like potato originating from Central- and South America. The resulting transgenic potatoes are said to contain up to 60% more protein and to be enriched in essential amino acids. Photosynthesis and yield are claimed to be higher as well compared to potato varieties obtained through traditional breeding alone. The transgenic potatoes are intended for developing countries. A protein-enhanced potato would fit the nutritional needs better than a traditional potato would.

So far on the article in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA) and Bionieuws.

Another crop designed to meet nutritional needs in the developing world specifically, 'Golden Rice', created quite some controversy. This rice with enhanced levels of vitamin A, developed by a group led by Ingo Potrykus (ETH Zürich, Switzerland), should diminuish the risk of blindness among the poor. But not everyone got convinced of its usefulness and the intentions behind the project.

In India itself, there is debate going on for quite some time about the pros and cons of genetic modification of crops. It started with the increasing acreage of Bt-cotton, resistant against one important insect pest, bollworm. Sowing seed of such varieties is more expensive than that of traditionally bred varieties. But even with this expensive starting material harvest can fail, because of drought, flooding, diseases or other pests than bollworm that these Bt-plants are as susceptible to as unmodified crops are.
The debate has shifted gear since the plan arose to introduce a BT-eggplant. This 'Bt bringal', as it has become known, is resistant to shoot borer, one of the major pests threatening this very popular food crop. Judging from the item on BBC News Report dated May 20th 2010, the opposing sides are sometimes engaged in fierce and emotional demonstrations.

source: Chakraborty et al. PNAS 20 September 2010, quoted by Bionieuws 2 October 2010; BBC News Report 20 May 2010