BIOENGINEERING OF DROUGHT RESISTANT PLANTS

Could this be the future?

     Currently exciting research is underway to attempt to genetically engineer GM crops that are less susceptable to droughts and water storage. This could save potable water for drinking and means that farmers in the developing world could rely on good crops more, as they do not have to worry about low precipitation levels, so this could allow them to think more long term. Recently developed 'drought tolerant' seeds have helped crops double in parts of Kenya which have been hit by drought for several years.  The effects of drought on a crop can be devastating – yield is generally reduced and the grain which is collected is often of poor quality compared to that grown under optimal conditions. Therefore thi new engineering development could be the answer to our food production concerns regarding drought. 

 

"Research shows promise for drought-tolerant crops"

 

    Barley plants which have four times the drought tolerance of their parent stock have been developed by scientists at the John Innes Centre, working with colleagues at the University of Jordan.  Poor water availability is a major limitation for many crops. This is an area that genetic modification (GM), can make a big impact. Agriculture uses about 70% of global water and it takes 2,000 to 3,000 litres of water to produce the food a human typically eats in a day. 

     The scientists were able to work on a gene responsible for opening and closing tiny pores on the surface of the barley leaves. These pores, called stomata, are used by the plant for gas exchange but also provide an exit route for water vapour to leave the leaf. They tend to close at night to conserve water and open in the day to allow photosynthesis.

   The scientists were able to develop barley plants with stomata which closed more readily when water was scarce by altering the genes. 

However, development of commercial crops is still a long way off as there must be a lot of research to ensure that they are safe.