Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the future. Molecular markers are being used to evaluate genetic diversity, to iden-
tify genetic relationships within and between individuals, to develop genetic maps
of particular species, to identify and clone particular genes of interest, to identify
transgenes and in forensic science.
Both plant tissue culture in the 1950s and molecular biology in the 1980s started
with much promise to make a huge impact in plant science in general and horticul-
ture in particular. Plant tissue culture was not beset with the major problems and
adverse reactions that have limited the commercial application of GM crops in hor-
ticulture. Plant tissue culture research has made a major contribution to horticulture
in the production of new technologies and numerous examples of new cultivars of
horticultural species. An example is the wide range of applications to tropical fruit
species, many of which were considered recalcitrant
in vitro
in the twentieth century
(Drew
2008
). By contrast, despite a huge research effort, there has been limited
commercial application of GM crops in horticulture. Successful examples include
the Flavr Savr
R
tomato, PRSV-P resistant papaya in Hawaii and the production of
some novel flowers such as purple carnations in South America.
As more genes and their related functions are identified on genome sequences,
marker assisted selection will make a huge impact on plant breeding in the future.
A limitation to the application of plant molecular biology has been biotechnologists
working in isolation from other plant scientists. The technology still shows potential
in the future particularly if scientists work in multidisciplinary teams that include
molecular biologists, plant tissue culturists, plant breeders, horticulturists and other
plant scientists. A model for this approach and the potential for success was dem-
onstrated by Ingo Potrykus in his development of golden rice. Future research must
include a sustainable approach to feeding an ever-growing world population given
the limitations of land suitable for agriculture, the shortage of clean water and the
need to preserve our environment (Juwarkar et al.
2010
).
Science Capable of Creating New Industries
Modelling and Integrative Biology in Horticulture
Crop modelling is not new; in the 1950s and 1960s considerable effort was de-
voted in particular to developing “blue-print” growing, especially for glasshouse
crops such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Subsequently, modelling crop responses to
physical and chemical environments both in the field and under protection gained
sophistication with the advent of desk top computing in the 1980s. In brassicas,
responses defining nutrient and water demand by annual and perennial genotypes
were established. Much more powerful computing now allows the description of bi-
ological systems as consisting of “layers of perception”, in which each layer can be
approached using a discipline and a dedicated set of data and processes (Fig.
2.4
).
A deliberate choice is made to perceive the system investigated through the filter
of a discipline, one or two scales, and an appropriate “tool of the trade”, measuring
