Where are the drought tolerant crops? An assessment of more than two decades of plant biotechnology effort in crop improvement

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Nuccio, M. L., Paul, M. J., Bate, N. J., Cohn, J. and Cutler, S. R. 2018. Where are the drought tolerant crops? An assessment of more than two decades of plant biotechnology effort in crop improvement. Plant Science. 273 (August), pp. 110-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.01.020

AuthorsNuccio, M. L., Paul, M. J., Bate, N. J., Cohn, J. and Cutler, S. R.
Abstract

Since the dawn of modern biotechnology public and private enterprise have pursued the development of a new breed of drought tolerant crop products. After more than 20 years of research and investment only a few such products have reached the market. This is due to several technical and market constraints. The technical challenges include the difficulty in defining tractable single-gene trait development strategies, the logistics of moving traits from initial to commercial genetic backgrounds, and the disconnect between conditions in farmer’s fields and controlled environments. Market constraints include the significant difficulty, and associated costs, in obtaining access to markets around the world. Advances in the biology of plant water management, including response to water deficit reveal new opportunities to improve crop response to water deficit and new genome-based tools promise to usher in the next era of crop improvement. As biotechnology looks to improve crop productivity under drought conditions, the environmental and food security advantages will influence public perception and shift the debate toward benefits rather than risks.

KeywordsDrought tolerance; GMO; Crop genetic engineering; Agricultural biotechnology
Year of Publication2018
JournalPlant Science
Journal citation273 (August), pp. 110-119
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.01.020
Open accessPublished as green open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeDesigning Future Wheat (DFW) [ISPG]
DFW - Designing Future Wheat - Work package 1 (WP1) - Increased efficiency and sustainability
Publisher's version
Copyright license
Publisher copyright
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright license
CC BY-NC-ND
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online05 Feb 2018
Publication process dates
Accepted31 Jan 2018
PublisherElsevier Ireland Ltd
ISSN0168-9452

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