TRANSGENIC PLANTS

Varshitha B.N.
2nd year M.Sc.
DOS in Biotechnology
Manasagangothri, Mysuru.
 Contents:
Introduction
Terminologies
Gene transfer methods
Examples of transgenic plants
 Herbicide resistance
 Pest resistance
 Disease resistance
 Abiotic stress tolerance
 Improvement of crop yield and nutritional
quality
Biosafety regulations of transgenics
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION:
 Transgenic plants are created by selecting a specific gene
or genes from one species and placing it into the DNA of
another species.
 This results in a phenotypic changes in the species that the
gene(s) was implanted into.
 Several methods have been adopted for the transfer of
genes such as Bacterium mediated transfer
(Agrobacterium-mediated), Gene
gun(Biolistics),Electroporation, Microinjection etc.,
 Aim is to introduce a new trait of plant that are resistant
varieties of condition.
 The purpose of inserting a combination of genes in a
plant,so as to make it as useful and productive as possible.
 HISTORY

 The first genetically modified crop plant was produced in1982, an

antibiotic- resistant tobacco plant.
 In 1987, plant Genetic Systems, founded by Marc Van Montagu and Jeff
Schell, was the first company to genetically engineer insect resistant
(tobacco) plant by incorporating genes that produced insecticidal
proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
 The first genetically modified crop approved for sale in the US, in1994,
was the Flavr Savr tomato as it had a longer shelf life.

 In 2000,vitamin A –enriched
golden rice, was the first food
with increased nutrient
value.
KEY SCIENTISTS:

 In 1981, Eugene Nester and Mary Dell

Chilton came up with a way in which
foreign gene could be introduced into plant
cells creating transgenic plants.
 They used the Ti plasmid (Tumor
inducing plasmid) that is carried by soil
bacteria called Agrobacterium Eugene Nester
tumefaciens.

Mary Dell Chilton

 TERMINOLOGY

TRANSGENE– it is a foreign gene or genetic material

that has been transferred naturally or by any of a
number of genetic engineering techniques from one
organisms to another.

TRANSGENESIS– The phenomenon of introduction

of exogenous DNA into the genome to create and
maintain a stable and heritable character.

TRANSGENIC PLANT – The plant whose genome is

altered by adding one or more transgenes are known
as transgenic plants.
WHY TRANSGENIC PLANT ??
HERBICIDE
NUTRITIONAL RESISTANCE INSECTICIDE
QUALITY RESISTANCE

PHARMACEUTICALS BIOTIC
AND STRESS
TRANSGENIC TOLERANCE
VACCINES PLANT

ABIOTIC
INDUSTRIAL
STRESS
PRODUCT
TOLERANCE
ENHANCED
SHELF LIFE
SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF
TRANSGENIC PLANTS
 HERBICIDE RESISTANCE plantS:
 A Herbicide, commonly known as a weedkiller, is a type of pesticide used
to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while
leaving the desired crop.
 Those plants which resist the application of herbicides.
 Glyphosate is one of the common and active component of many
herbicides.
 Application of these herbicides results in the death of the plant due to
inhibition of the enzyme EPSP SYNTHETASE.
 This enzyme helps in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. As
glyphosate inhibits EPSP SYNTHETASE aromatic amino acids cannot be
synthesized in the plant.
 PETUNIA PLANTS are resistant to the application of herbicides, EPSP
gene was isolated, c-DNA was made from its m-RNA, and suitable vector
was designed using A. tumefaciens
 Then the Agrobacterium was allowed to infect leaf disc of desired plant.
 The EPSP gene was now introduced into soya bean through
Agrobacterium.
 INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE PLANTS:
Plants that can tolerate the attack of insects, pests are called insect or
pest resistance plants.
 Insecticide resistance cotton
 Insecticide resistance corn
The Bacterium Bacillus thuringienesis produce an endotoxin called
Bt-toxin.
It’s a soil-borne bacterium produces an endospore inside the cell, it
produces both the exotoxin and endotoxin. Beta endotoxin play an
important role in killing the pests.
These are the crystalline molecules composed of adenine, ribose sugar
and glucose.
When the bacteria enters into an insect gut, the cell wall ruptures and
endospore comes out. The endotoxin gets dissolved in alkaline juice of
digestive tract of the insect and kills.
 The gene encoding for the endotoxin was made and inserted
into suitable vector and allow to infect the plant and obtain
the resistant varities of plants .
INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE SWEET CORN
INSECTICIDE RESISTANT Bt COTTON AND
Bt CORN
TRANSGENIC POTATO
 3. VIRUS RESISTANT PAPAYA

VIRUS RESISTANT PAPAYA :

 Plants may be engineered with genes for resistance to viruses,
bacteria and fungi.
 Virus – resistant plants have a viral protein coat gene that is
overproduced, preventing the virus from reproducing in the
host cell, because the plant shuts off the virus protein coat
gene in response to the overproduction.
 Coat protein genes are involved in resistance to disease such
as cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco rattle virus, potato virus x
and papaya ring spot virus etc.
 PRSV causes infection to papaya plants show following
symptoms
- Plants are stunned and fruits set is reduced.
-Fruits develop innumerable circular, water soaked spots
with concentric rings
-Sometimes fruits size is reduced with deformed shape.
PAPAYA RING SPOT
DISEASE CAUSED
BY VIRUS
 INFECTED

RESISTANT
 TRANSGENIC TOMATOES

FLAVR-SAVR TOMATO:

 This is produced by antisense technology.

 The polygalactouronase gene, which is
responsible for fruit decay is silenced.
 It is produced by the
California company called
CALGENE.
In these varities the gene
responsible for ripening is modified
using genetic engineering technique,
so that the shelf life of tomato is
increased.
 ONE MORE INTERESTING THING????
 Genetically stable expression of functional
miraculin,a new type of alternative sweetener,in
transgenic tomato plant.
TRANSGENIC COLOURFULL ROSES
ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE PLANT
ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANT PLANT

 TRANSGENIC PLANT FOR GLYCINE BETAINE, SUGAR AND SUGAR

ALCOHOL,PROLINE,CARBOHYDRATES ARE EXISTED AND WHICH ARE
RESISTANCE TO VARITIES OF ABIOTIC CONDITIONS.
IMPROVEMENT OF CROP YIELD AND
NUTRITIONAL QUALITY
GOLDEN RICE
OTHER SUCCESS STORIES OF
TRANSGENICS
BIOSAFETY REGULATIONS OF TRANSGENICS
 CONCLUSIONS
Transgenic plants have the potential to solve many of the
world’s hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help
protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield
and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and
herbicides.
Although genetically modified foods have benefits, there are
still risks, and we must be cautious.
Genetically modified organisms still remain a controversial
issue, and will probably continue to be debated for a long
time to come.
We must take into account the health, environmental, and
economic effects that these organisms can result in.
 REFERENCES

 Satyanarayana U. Biotechnology. …..year?...Publishers?

 Gene cloning and DNA analysis – T.A Brown

 Fundamentals of plant Biotechnology – R.S Singh and B.S Singh
 Molecular biology and genetic engineering – P.K Gupta
 Molecular biotechnology: principles and Applications –
Bernard R.Glick
Jack Pasternak
Cheryl L. Patten
 THANK
YOU

TRANSGENIC