Genetically
Modified
Crops
ALFALA
The new alfalfa was developed by inserting a gene into
the plant's DNA, making it resistant to glyphosate, a
commonly used herbicide. This technology has been
widely used with canola, cotton, soybeans and corn and
allows for the spraying of fields with the herbicide, killing
weeds without affecting the crop.
STRAWBERRIES
GM strawberries possess Recombinant DNA technology
resulting in higher yields. It also has an increased frost
resistance leading to a decrease in frost damage to
harvested crops. While modified strawberries has less
possibility to produce erratically, it can cause some
minor or major allergies in some instances.
ZUCCHINI
GMO zucchini and yellow summer squash have been
genetically modified to be resistant to plant diseases such
as zucchini yellow mosaic virus and watermelon mosaic
virus, which cause afflicted plants to produce small, sickly
fruit. However, while modification reduces the severity of
the diseases, it does not confer immunity.
BANANA
Banana is an economically important cash crop as it fetch
large revenue share in the domestic and international
market. Genetic engineering of banana is considered a
perfect alternative for improvement of sterile cultivars or
ones which are not amenable to traditional breeding
methods Several successful attempts have demonstrated
the strength of this technology in developing abiotic stress
tolerance and disease resistant transgenic banana
varieties.
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APPLE
GM apples have greater resistance to viruses and
other diseases, which could lead to less waste and
increased food security. It is also more attractive
to consumers and is less likely to bruise or turn
brown. GM apples also possess enhanced flavor
longer shelf life.
CANOLA
Canola was modified to help in weed control and herbicide
tolerance. Canola being a leading agricultural product
needed to be more productive and efficient in order for the
industry to maximize the profits.
The first strain, Roundup Ready canola, was developed by
Monsanto for tolerance to glyphosate, the active
ingredient in the commonly used herbicide Roundup.
PAPAYA
The papaya is an agricultural produce native only to Central
America. However, after undergoing genetic modification, it
was able to grow in the global commercial market.
Genetic Modification also enabled the papaya to resist the
ringspot virus (PRSV), mites and Phytophthora,
SUGAR BEETS
A genetically modified sugar beet is a sugar beet that has
been genetically engineered by the direct modification of its
genome using biotechnology. Commercialized GM sugar
beets make use of a glyphosate-resistance modification
developed by Monsanto and KWS Saat. GM sugar beets grow
faster and makes up 95% of the US beet market.