Woody Plant Biotechnology: Perspectives and Limitations

1991 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Ahuja
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Gaurav Ranabhat ◽  
Ashmita Dhakal ◽  
Saurav Ranabhat ◽  
Ananta Dhakal ◽  
Rakshya Aryal

Modern biotechnology enables an organism to produce a totally new product which the organism does not or cannot produce normally through the incorporation of the technology of ‘Genetic engineering’. Biotechnology shows its technical merits and new development prospects in breeding of new plants varieties with high and stable yield, good quality, as well as stress tolerance and resistance. Some of the most prevailing problems faced in agricultural ecosystems could be solved with the introduction of transgenic crops incorporated with traits for insect pest resistance, herbicide tolerance and resistance to viral diseases. Plant biotechnology has gained importance in the recent past for increasing the quality and quantity of agricultural, horticultural, ornamental plants, and in manipulating the plants for improved agronomic performance. Recent developments in the genome sequencing will have far reaching implications for future agriculture. From this study, we can know that the developing world adopts these fast-changing technologies soon and harness their unprecedented potential for the future benefit of human being.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 506a-506
Author(s):  
L.A. Klein ◽  
M.T. Windham ◽  
R.N. Trigiano

Microshoot and callus cultures of Cornus florida (flowering dogwood), which were grown on woody plant medium amended with BA, were inoculated with Microsphaera pulchra (an obligate plant parasite) by gently shaking infected leaves bearing numerous conidia over the tissue. Culture dishes were sealed with parafilm and incubated at 24 °C with 25 mol·m–2·s–1 provided by cool fluorescent bulbs for 15 h. Cultures were examined with a dissecting scope every 24 h and cultures transferred when contaminating fungi were present. Specimens were prepared light microscopy and SEM. The fungus infected individual callus cells, but did not sporulate. In contrast, powdery mildew was well-established (both primary and secondary hyphae) in 70% of the microshoot cultures after 6 days and sporulated on 20% by 7 to 8 days. The cellular relationship between host and pathogen in vitro was similar to that found in greenhouse-grown plants. This technique has possible applications in maintaining fungal culture collections and studying host–pathogen relationships under more stringently controlled conditions.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 504e-504
Author(s):  
Erika Szendrak ◽  
Paul E. Read ◽  
Jon S. Miller

Modern aspects of many subjects (e.g., computer science and some aspects of medical science) are now taught in many high schools, but the plant sciences are often given short shrift. A collaboration was therefore established with a high school biology program in which pilot workshops could be developed to enable advanced students to gain insights into modern plant science techniques. A successful example is the workshop on plant biotechnology presented in this report. This workshop is simple and flexible, taking into account that most high school biology laboratories and classrooms are not set up for sophisticated plant science/biotechnology projects. It is suitable for from 10 to 30 students, depending upon space and facilities available. Students work in pairs or trios, and learn simple disinfestation and transfer techniques for micropropagation and potential subsequent transformation treatments. Students gain insights into: sterile technique and hygiene; plant hormones and their physiological effects; plant cell, tissue and organ culture; the influence of environmental factors on response of cells and tissues cultured in vitro; and an understanding of the phenomenon of organogenesis and resulting plant growth and development. This workshop has been tested on several classes of students and following analysis, several refinements were included in subsequent iterations. Results of the students' experiments have been positive and instructive, with student learning outcomes above expectations. Further details of the workshop techniques and approach will be presented.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 503c-503
Author(s):  
Paul H. Henry ◽  
John E. Preece

A propagation method is being developed that allows softwood shoots to be generated from stem sections of dormant woody plant species. These shoots, forced in the greenhouse during the winter, are subsequently collected and processed as softwood stem cuttings to produce clonal plant material. Many species in the nursery industry can only be propagated using softwood cuttings, and this technique allows propagation of these species to be initiated several months earlier than what is typically possible. Current studies involve expanded screening of ornamental tree and shrub species to determine if commercial production using this technique is feasible. Results demonstrate that many species may be propagated using this method, but that some species are more prolific than others with respect to number of softwood shoots produced. Additional studies are currently in progress to determine the environmental (light regime, moisture regime) and cultural (type of media) conditions that are optimal when producing clonal plant material via this technique.


2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Vissers ◽  
Ben Dankbaar
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Brian J. Wilsey

Conservation programs alter herbivore stocking rates and find and protect the remaining areas that have not been plowed or converted to crops. Restoration is an ‘Acid Test’ for ecology. If we fully understand how grassland systems function and assemble after disturbance, then it should be easy to restore them after they have been degraded or destroyed. Alternatively, the idea that restorations will not be equivalent to remnants has been termed the ‘Humpty Dumpty’ hypothesis—once lost, it cannot be put back together again. Community assembly may follow rules, and if these rules are uncovered, then we may be able to accurately predict final species composition after assembly. Priority effects are sometimes found depending on species arrival orders, and they can result in alternate states. Woody plant encroachment is the increase in density and biomass of woody plants, and it is strongly affecting grassland C and water cycles.


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