Kodagu-origin US scientist works on path-breaking agriculture technology
Crops may soon overcome the need for fertilisers and pesticides. The research for this may be a long-drawn-out process, but will provide path-breaking results.
Dr B W Joe Poovaiah, the Kodagu-based agriculture scientist in Washington State University, is undertaking gene treatment research to eliminate the necessity of fertilisers and pesticides of crops. The research is in the advanced stages and field trials are pending.
He gave details of his research to reporters during a visit to the district. Poovaiah belongs to the Bachittira family of Kiggalu village in the district and settled in the US 40 years ago. His research – Calcium/calmodulin: The grand conductor of signal orchestration in plants – has attracted the attention of the international scientific community. He is working on calcium/calmodulin-mediated signaling to achieve the objectives.
The scientist says that while the CCamK gene – which is responsible for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphorylation – governs nitrogen fixation in crops, the DWF1 and AtSR1 genes are responsible for growth of plants and their resistance to the effects of pests on them respectively. Poovaiah’s team tasted its first success in identifying these genes. The later stage was the treatment of the genes (cloning) so as to suit their needs.
According to him, monocotyledons (for example, rice and wheat), cannot absorb nitrogen – a key nutrient – from the atmosphere, thus necessitating the use of fertilisers. However, the plants of legumes (dicotyledons – peas, beans) do not face this problem. The CCamK gene in these plants help them absorb nitrogen directly from the atmosphere.
This gene is being created in the lab and introduced into the rice and wheat plants to “teach” them to absorb nitrogen directly from the atmosphere (self-fertilising), thereby eliminating the need for fertilisers. Plants release salicylic acid into the atmosphere, whenever they are affected by diseases, as a means of fighting the diseases (defend themselves against pathogen attack).
The amount of acid release varies from plant to plant. Treating the AtSR1 gene can help increase the amount of acid release, thus increasing their immunity. A success in this task will end the dependence on pesticides for plants.
Similarly, controlling the DWF1 gene – responsible for the very tall growth in some plants – can make them grow less taller (altered growth habits) and give higher yield.
The results of the research document novel regulatory mechanisms where calcium acts as a ‘master switch’ in controlling various physiological processes in plants. The gene treatment will start yielding results in five to 10 years, he said.
His researches have been documented in science magazine Nature and the website of Washington State University.
source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> State / Madikeri, DHNS / April 10th, 2012
