Isolation of genes and their transfer into crop plants
1998
Wenzel, G. (Technische Univ. Muenchen, Freising-Weihenstephan (Germany))
Today, more than 20 transgenic cultivars of about 10 plant species are available for the farmer on the market; the majority, however, only in the USA. Sugar beet, since of minor importance in the US, is not included. Presently, in Europe at many locations field trials with transgenic sugar beets are ongoing. Most of the transformants contain genes isolated from viruses or bacteria - representing examples that the gene transfer can jump over systematic barriers. The relative large number of wide transfers demonstrates that it is easier to isolate genes in microorganisms than in higher plants. Although the existing examples show how universal the new technique is, the low number of transfers with genes from the same species reflects the present limitations of gene technology. For transfering genes into higher plants, two procedures are available: vector mediated transfer by Agrobacterium and direct gene transfer. In sugar beets, both techniques work but Agrobacterium is the easier one and is consequently prefered. The most critical point in using gene transfer today is no longer of a technical nature but rather a juristic question: How can the practical breeders cope with the huge number of international basic patents and how can they obtain own patents or variety protection on their varieties and deduced varieties.
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