Golden rice: introgression, breeding, and field evaluation

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made on the genetic engineering of rice for improved nutritional content involving micronutrients and carotenoid content. Golden Rice, developed by genetic engineering (Agrobacterium and biolistic transformation) was used in rice breeding for the transfer of high-nutritional value to the local rice cultivars. Simultaneously, commercial Asian indica rice cultivars were also developed with expression of high-carotenoid levels. The lines were developed based on POSITECH (PMI) selection system or made marker free by segregating out the marker gene from the gene of interest. Anther culture was used to develop the homozygous stable lines, which could be of much use in further introgress-breeding and in farmer's field. Enhanced carotenoids levels (up to T3 generation) were observed in a number of lines compared to the T0-T1 seeds which could be due to transgeneration effect of growing under greenhouse versus field conditions. However, a few introgressed lines showed less carotenoid levels than the original lines used in the breeding process. Agronomic performance of introgressed lines, non-transgenic controls, and transgenic golden rice (IR64 and BR29) developed at IRRI

Nutritionally Enhanced Staple Food Crops

“…The proof of concept has been demonstrated that genes psy and crtI or psy, crtI and lycopene b-cyclase under endosperm-specific promoters have been effective for elevating b-carotene concentration in transgenic rice, with more b-carotene in polished grains. More importantly, the incorporation of genes for carotenogenesis in seeds by transgenesis or by introgression did not change any significant agronomic characteristics in rice plants (Paine et al 2005;Baisakh et al 2006;Datta et al 2006Datta et al , 2007.…”

“…It is, therefore, evident that the best approach to address human nutrition through biofortification strategies will likely involve genetic engineering in conjunction with conventional breeding, particularly when the direct enhancement of local elite breeding is required (Datta et al 2007;Naqvi et al 2009a,b;Ronald 2011).…”

Transgenic basmati rice transformed with the Xa21 gene shows resistance against bacterial leaf blight

“…Tu et al (2000) observed that some of the transgenic IR72 lines having the Xa21 gene gave excellent field performance and yield performance of one of the transgenic lines, T103-10, was comparable with that of control. Similarly, Datta et al (2007) observed no significant variation in grain yields, 100-seed weight, and total biomass of the golden rice transgenic lines as compared to the control plants.…”

Physiological and Biochemical Significance of Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview

“…Enabling rice more nutritious, could improve people's lives enormously [64]. Besides, bioavailability of the carotene from golden rice has been confirmed and noticed to be an effective source of Vitamin A for human systems [65,66].…”