Approved genetically modified (GM) horticultural plants: A 25-year perspective

Abstract

In this review, we present genetically modified (GM) horticultural events that have passed the regulatory process and have been approved for cultivation or food use in different countries. The first authorization or deregulation of a GM horticultural plant issued 25 years ago initiated a fast expansion of GM organisms (GMO) engineered by using gene transfer technology. The list of GM horticultural species comprises representatives of vegetables, fruit plants and ornamentals. We describe their unique characteristics, often not achievable by conventional breeding, and how they were developed, and the approval process. Information on the adoption of GM horticultural cultivars and sale is accessed if commercialization has occurred. The review comprises, among others, Flavr SavrTM and other tomato cultivars with delayed ripening and improved shelf-life, insect-resistant eggplant (or brinjal), as well as virus-resistant squash, melon and the common bean, and also fruit trees, plum and papaya. Cultivation of the latter was particularly valuable to farmers in Hawaii as it ensured restoration of papaya production devastated earlier by the Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). In contrast, a plum resistant to sharka (Plum pox virus; PPV) deregulated in the USA is still awaiting commercialization. GM events with improved quality include the recently marketed non-browning apple and high-lycopene pineapple. We also present orange petunia, blue ‘Applause’ rose and Moon-series carnations with a modified purple and violet flower colour. Finally, we discuss prospects of GM horticultural plants, including their development using promising new breeding technologies relying on genome editing and considered as an alternative to the transgenic approach.

A Perspective on RNAi-Based Biopesticides

“…The approval of the first commercial GMO varieties expressing a dsRNA against an insect pest would not occur until 2017, with Monsanto and Dow's SMARTSTAX PRO maize incorporating a dsRNA against another western corn rootworm gene, Snf7 (Head et al, 2017). At around the same time, approval was granted for apple and potato expressing dsRNAs for regulation of endogenous gene expression for quality enhancement (Waltz, 2015;Baranski et al, 2019).…”

RNAi-Mediated Control of Lepidopteran Pests of Important Crop Plants

“…The transgenic plants harbor a dsRNA construct that specifically targets the SUCROSE-NON-FERMENTING7 gene of WCR (DvSnf7), together with two insecticidal proteins Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 [57]. This is in concurrence with the approval granted for apple and potato expressing dsRNAs for quality enhancement [58,59]. In the past decades, lepidopteran pests have been successfully managed by the first-generation insecticidal plants expressing the Bt proteins.…”

Transgenic and genome-edited fruits: background, constraints, benefits, and commercial opportunities

“…These lines were also approved as food and feed. The Da, B, and F lines were intended for processing 4 . Between 1996 and 1999, more than 1.8 million cans derived from hybrids of the F line were sold in the UK 18 , but from 1998 onwards were no longer used as food ingredients 18 .…”

“…The first genetically engineered fruit product (Flavr Savr™ tomato) was deregulated in 1992 and introduced into the market in 1994 4 . A gene that triggers pectin solubilization was downregulated in the transgenic fruits, resulting in delayed fruit softening and an extended shelflife 5 .…”

“…However, more recent products have addressed quality traits by eliminating fruit browning or adding new visual traits such as flesh color. Some engineered fruit crops have been withdrawn from the market because they were not commercially viable (Flavr Savr™ tomato 4,18 ) or were never commercialized (Melon A and B 16,19 ).…”