In the world generally, and Canada specifically, there are a good number of commercial breeding programmes for eggplant with some species of eggplant being used in eggplant breeding programs to improve the crop in a number of ways such as disparities for the content of phenolics and drought resistance for example (Knappet al., 2013). According to Cericola et al. (2013), eggplant selection and breeding over the decades has contributed to significant numbers of eggplant varieties. The varieties are categorised as Occidental and oriental. Occidental species are typically cultivated in North Africa, Europe and the Americas) whereas the latter are eggplants of East and Southeast Asia. The two major varieties vary from one another both with respect …show more content…
Conclusions drawn by Munoz et al. (2008) suggest that commercial F1 hybrids outperform local eggplant varieties in yield. Additionally, experimental hybrids obtained after crossing local varieties can be useful for developing new high yielding varieties adapted to open field cultivation. On the other hand, the utility of these materials is not so promising for greenhouse cultivation, in which commercial hybrids have a better performance than the experimental hybrids. Nonetheless, just like it is the case for tomato, which is closely related to eggplant, local varieties and the materials derived from them, possibly could be used for broadening the genetic variation of greenhouse commercial hybrids of eggplant. These are all scenarios that work well for current economic driven breeding of …show more content…
According to research conducted by Portis et al. (2015) on Association Mapping for Fruit, Plant and Leaf Morphology Traits in Eggplant for instance the fruit shape is an important morphological trait of eggplant. In general, fruits with a large calyx and a long peduncle are more attractive. On the other hand calyx prickliness and green pulp are both unattractive features. This is because prickliness makes handling more difficult and green pulp gives the impression that the fruit is unripe (Portis, 2015). In the study, 18 out of the 19 fruit morphology related traits analyzed were associated with markers, a total of 112 trait-markers associations were identified, mapping to 34 genomic regions distributed over all 12 of the eggplant chromosomes (Portis, 2015). Their research therefore was in part aimed at mapping out the morphology and controlling the desirable traits in eggplant, such as colour, shape and
Modern biotechnology was born at the hands of American scientists Herb Boyer and Stain Cohen, when they developed “recombinant deoxyribonucleotide, (rDNA), [1] for medicinal purposes. Subsequently, biotechnologists started genetically engineering agricultural plants using this technology. A single gene responsible for a certain trait, from one organism (usually a bacterium) is selected altered and then ‘spliced” into the DNA of a plant to create an agricultural crop consisting of that...
Old World crops such as wheat, barley, rice, and turnips had not traveled west across the Atlantic. Some of the New World crops that hav...
Progress in molecular genetics during the last century has permitted greater characterization and understanding of gene function, which will ultimately enable advances in classical breeding. New disease resistance, and other desirable genes will be identified in Beta germplasm screening studies, and introduced into breeding lines and into commercial cultivars (Francis and Luterbacher 2003). As a result, the molecular genetics could result in truly high yielding, low-input, and pesticide free sugar beet cultivation. This would be beneficial both to the environment and, depending on the seed price, to growers’ income.
Genes underpin the molecular basis of phenotypic variation among individuals. By identifying the position underlying gene via gene mapping, it is possible to uncover the evolutionary principles which account for phenotypic variations. In this practical, we associated ten simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) markers with three phenotypes to identify any possible association between a marker and certain phenotype in Arabidopsis. Those three phenotypes were: did the plant show flowering, did cell death observe in the plant and finally the rosette diameter. The first two phenotypes were qualitative traits scored with yes or no answer whereas the later was a quantitative phenotype with a continuous distribution and measured in centimeter.
Since the birth of agriculture farmers across the world have been altering the genetic makeup of the crops they grow. Ancient farmers chose only the best looking plants and
Most literary classics, like books required to be read by students, are known to be in first person point of view by a character everyone knows and has a connection with. Mark Dunn's Ella Minnow Pea is a bit out of the box, compared to other novels, since his book is an epistolary novel. This novel is composed of letters written by many different people and to many different people, which allows the reader to feel an emotional connection to all of the characters involved. These emotional attachments draw people's attention to Dunn's unique take on culture epidemics, such as Nollop's; the attachments and connection also stand out compared to other classics. The most likely reason of why Dunn chose to write an epistolary novel is because of the popularity he and it would gain, however the novel may have some flaws since it is made of letters.
In “Springing Forward”, Barbara Kingsolver says, "whiz-kid hybrid seeds have slowly colonized and then dominated our catalogs and our croplands" (46). Her main point within the article states that today there are few heirloom vegetables because of the increase in genetically modified vegetables. Heirloom seeds are defined as seeds that are saved from the previous generation so that new crops can be grown and Kingsolver states that, "GM is a newer process
Chemical advancement in modern science is a contributing factor to “better”, faster, and cheaper food production. Although the ideas of GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) that scientists thrive for are theoretically beneficial, they are corrupting the natural methods for farming and food that consumers will purchase. Nowadays, around 70% of food has a genetically modified ingredient. What is being consumed in mass quantities across the country barely constitutes as food in some instances. A prime example lies in the tomato. Tomatoes are sold year round in grocery markets nationwide....
With plants of the genus Brassica importance in the form of vegetables and oilseeds (Wang and Freeling 2013), the results of this experiment offer a view into their inheritance patterns which can in the long term be replicated for different outcomes. Augustine et al. discuss the importance of these plants’ traits in terms of food production by stating that studying the mutations of Brassica may lead to improvement of crops by expressing mutations that are desirable phenotypic traits (2014). Brassica are an important part of the global food supply and if any plants can be genetically altered by selective fertilization then those steps should be taken to produce larger, more efficient, or shorter cycling plants. This experiment has supported the inheritance of traits according to Mendel by examining the inheritance of anthocyanin in B. rapa.
Janick. J. (2011). Center for New Crops & Plant Products - Department of Horticulture and
One’s behavior, health, disorder, and characteristics, all depend on he’s genetic code. Genetic engineering, also known has genetic modification, can have various methods, but commonly consists of alternating the DNA in an organism’s genome (Winter). Several instances of alternating the DNA in an organism comprises of changing one base pair of the organism’s DNA, removing a region of the DNA, and gene cloning (Winter). Scientist use genetic engineering to enhance and modify the characteristics of an organism (Knapton). For example, aside from the experimental purposes, the cross between Bison and beef combined each of their best quality to make one enhanced outcome. Due to the cross, the Beefalo has increased efficiency and taste, meaning they can input costs and improve profits. Other examples of genetic engineering include GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Genetic engineering, although used on animals and food for decades, only recently surfaced with concrete evidence towards working on human DNA. This groundbreaking knowledge can provide new medical advances, completely altering the emblematic
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute between the people who support the advances of biotechnology and people who love nature. In order to understand the controversy, we have to know the meaning of genetically modified foods. With new technological advances, scientists can modify seeds from a conventional seed to a high tech seed with shorter maturation times and resistance to dryness, cold and heat. This is possible with the implementation of new genes into the DNA of the conventional seed. Once these "transgenes" are transferred, they can create plants with better characteristics (Harris 164-165). The farmers love it not only because it guarantees a good production, but the cost is also reduced. On the other hand, organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of Earth have campaigned against GMO (“Riesgos”) because they think that they are negatively affecting the earth (Gerdes 26). Both the advocates and the opponents of genetically modified foods have excellent arguments.
"Home | American Society of Agronomy." Home | American Society of Agronomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .
Since the plant’s domestication the sunflower has been one of the most important crops in production that is native to North America, comparable to maize and wheat. The sunflower, what was once a plant utilized only in the Americas is now one of the most widely and diversely recognized used plant species in the world.
Farmers and Scientists working in cooperation with natural adaptions, in participatory plant breeding projects will be an important factor for sustainable agriculture in relation to climate change as well. However, there are many variables when discussing global warming, and to attempt to breed plants that will hopefully be successful in an altered climate would likely be time wasted. As Sieglinde Snapp noted in Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development, “it is impossible to successfully develop a highly specialized and adapted technology if the conditions under which it is going to be operated are only vaguely known (2008).”