Two different methods have been used to identify and develop grain quality traits for crops. First type of the approach is to screen germplasm coupled with analytical tests for traits identification followed by the use of DNA based molecular markers to accelerate the breeding process. Plant transformation with desired gene is the second method. Lysine is an essential amino acid that is limiting in corn and soybean. The major problem with lysine accumulation in seed is that when the lysine is accumulated in sufficient quantities, the plant gene starts to degrade it. Expression of bacterial gene with embroyo specific promotor in seed is found to give high concentrations of lysine accumulation upto 100%. Transgenic corn and soybean lines of animal feed for increased concentration of methionine, soybean seeds with altered rations of seed proteins of reduced concentrations of phytic acid and increased concentration of free phosphorous are developed. Unsaturated fatty acids are healthier than saturated fatty acids and the mono unsaturated form oleic acids is more stable in frying and cooking than polyunsaturated form. Chemical hydrogenation is used to increase monounsaturated forms but hydrogenation also raises the transfatty acid which are linked to higher health risks. Transgenic crops which have the capacity to suppress the desaturase gene have high oleic acid accumulation. Oleic acid concentration of transgenic soyabean was reported to increase from 25% to 85%. Genes responsible for conversion of vernolic acid and ricinoleic acid (which has industrial application) can be transferred from castor and vernonia to soyabean which produces desired fatty acids. Cornstarch is a versatile and abundant raw material, produced by plants. By manipulating the genes responsible for starch production, bioengineers can produce starch with different properties. Researchers have developed an edible plastic film from pea starch, pea protein and canola oil. It is also possible to engineer banana to produce antigents so that they can be used as edible vaccines against diarrhoea and norwalk virus. Instead of injecting the vaccines, we can simply consume a raw banana for vaccination. Raising these transgenic crop benefits the farmers economically due to their varying industrial and economical applications. |
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